One person has died and seven others are missing after two Japanese military helicopters crashed overnight in the Pacific Ocean. The incident occurred during a night-time training exercise off the Izu Islands, with one helicopter losing communication at 10:38 pm and the other at 11:04 pm.
Rescuers were able to locate one crew member, who was later confirmed dead. The Defence Minister, Minoru Kihara, stated that the helicopters were conducting drills to counter submarines when the accident occurred. The cause of the crash is still unknown, but authorities are working to determine what happened.
The helicopters involved in the crash were Mitsubishi SH-60K models from the Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF). The MSDF reported that there were no other aircraft or vessels in the area at the time of the incident, making it unlikely that another country was involved.
This tragic event comes as Japan increases its defense spending and strengthens cooperation with other countries in response to regional security challenges. In recent years, Japan has experienced several military accidents, including a helicopter crash last April with no survivors and a fighter jet crash in January that resulted in the deaths of two pilots.
The Japanese government and military are now focused on investigating the cause of this latest incident and ensuring the safety of their personnel during training exercises.