Following a potential mid-air collision, two Japanese military helicopters crashed at sea, resulting in one confirmed fatality and seven individuals missing, according to officials. A spokesperson for Japan’s self-defense force stated that the incident occurred late on Saturday, with one person recovered from the wreckage and later pronounced deceased.
Defense Minister Minoru Kihara reported that rescuers identified what appeared to be parts of the aircraft in the sea, indicating a collision between the two helicopters. Kihara emphasized that while the cause remains undetermined, priority is placed on rescue efforts.
The helicopters were engaged in nighttime drills aimed at countering submarines. Subsequently, Kihara informed reporters that the rescued crew member had succumbed to their injuries.
The ministry confirmed the retrieval of flight recorders and initiated analysis, exploring the potential for a collision between the two aircraft. Reportedly, the helicopters crashed during nighttime training near the Izu Islands in the Pacific, as stated by broadcaster NHK.
NHK further reported that communication with one helicopter ceased at 10:38 p.m. near Torishima Island, followed by an emergency signal a minute later. Approximately 25 minutes later, the military became aware of the loss of communication with the other aircraft in the vicinity.
Primarily deployed from naval destroyers, the Mitsubishi SH-60K helicopters are involved in the incident. With no additional aircraft or vessels nearby, the navy deemed the involvement of another country improbable.
Japan’s heightened defense spending and increased collaboration with the US and other Asian nations respond to rising Chinese assertiveness in the region and the unpredictability of North Korea. In April 2023, a Japanese army helicopter carrying 10 individuals crashed off Miyako Island in southern Okinawa, resulting in no survivors.