Two Japanese navy helicopters carrying eight crew members crashed in the Pacific Ocean during a nighttime training flight after possibly colliding with each other.
This undated photo released by and taken from the official website of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, shows a SH-60K chopper. Two Japanese navy helicopters of the same type crashed in the Pacific Ocean south of Tokyo during a nighttime training flight after possibly colliding with each other, the country's defense minister said Sunday, April 21, 2024.This undated photo released by and taken from the official website of the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, shows a SH-60K chopper.
The cause of the crash was not immediately known, but officials believe the two helicopters"highly likely" collided with each other before crashing into the water, Kihara said.Rescuers have recovered a flight data recorder, a blade from each helicopter, and fragments believed to be from both choppers in the same area, signs that the two SH-60Ks were flying close to each other, Kihara said. Officials will analyze the flight data to try to determine what led to the crash.
The helicopters, twin-engine, multi-mission aircraft developed by Sikorsky and known as Seahawks, were modified and produced in Japan by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. They were on nighttime anti-submarine training in the waters, Kihara said. One lost contact at 10:38 p.m. and sent an automatic emergency signal a minute later. They lost contact about 270 kilometers east of Torishima island.
Saturday's training only involved the Japanese navy and was not part of a multinational exercise, defense officials said. They said no foreign aircraft or warships were spotted in the area.
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