Two Japanese Navy patrol helicopters were involved in a mid-air collision on Sunday, resulting in the death of one crew member and leaving seven others missing in the Pacific Ocean. This incident occurred during anti-submarine training exercises near the Izu islands, approximately 500 kilometers south of Tokyo. Communication was lost with one helicopter at 10:38 pm, followed by the second helicopter 25 minutes later, as reported by Japan’s NHK broadcaster.
Rescuers were deployed to the scene and identified debris believed to be from the crashed helicopters in the sea. Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara confirmed the recovery of one crew member’s body, while the search for the remaining seven individuals continued. The flight recorders from the helicopters are currently under analysis by the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF).
This tragic incident comes shortly after a similar event where ten Japanese soldiers lost their lives in a helicopter crash off Miyako Island. Investigations into the cause of these accidents are ongoing, with questions raised about technical malfunctions or pilot error. Additionally, American military forces in Japan have faced their own challenges, with several air crashes involving US aircraft in recent years, including fatalities and injuries.
