There were two helicopters of this type that crashed in the sea off Japan. Photo: Emily Wang / AP / NTB
Of NTB | 21.04.2024 08:00:21
Accidents and natural disasters: Defense Minister Minoru Kihara says it is possible that the helicopters collided with each other before crashing into the sea. The vessels’ tachographs were found close to each other after the accident on Saturday evening.
– At the moment the cause is not known, initially we are doing our best to save lives, Kihara said at a press briefing on Sunday.
A search and rescue operation was launched after the defense lost contact with the helicopters, which were training over the sea areas south of Tokyo, near the island of Tori-shima.
It concerns two helicopters of the SH-60K type. Each of them had four people on board. At first it was reported that one person had been rescued, but that person was later declared dead.
(© NTB)