One Japanese naval crewman has died and seven others are missing after two helicopters crashed during a night-time drill in the Pacific Ocean. The twin-engine Mitsubishi SH-60Ks were on anti-submarine training near the Izu Islands, 600km (372 miles) south of Tokyo, officials said.
Two flight recorders were discovered close to each other as was debris including parts of rotor blades. Defence Minister Minoru Kihara said the cause of the accident was unknown. A crew member was taken from the waters but was confirmed to have died.
Communication with one helicopter was lost at 22:38 local time (14:38 BST) off the island of Torishima, broadcaster NHK reports. One minute later an emergency signal was received from this aircraft. After 25 minutes, the military realised communication with the other aircraft, also a Mitsubishi SH-60K, was lost in the same area.
The Mitsubishi SH-60K helicopters – based on the Sikorsky Seahawk – mainly operate from naval destroyers.
The navy said as there were no other aircraft nor vessels in nearby waters, involvement of another country in the incident was unlikely.
Credit: bbc.com
