Two Japanese navy helicopters carrying eight crewmembers are believed to have crashed in the Pacific Ocean south of Tokyo during a night-time training exercise. The incident occurred near Torishima island, approximately 600 kilometers (370 miles) south of Tokyo. The helicopters, identified as SH-60K choppers belonging to the Maritime Self Defense Force, were each carrying four crew members.
Following the loss of contact late Saturday, one crew member was recovered from the waters, but their condition remains unknown. Search and rescue operations are ongoing for the remaining seven crew members. The cause of the crash is currently under investigation, with rescue efforts being the top priority.
The Maritime Self Defense Force has deployed eight warships and five aircraft to search for the missing crew. Fragments believed to be from one of the SH-60K helicopters have been recovered. Defense Minister Minoru Kihara confirmed that the helicopters are presumed to have crashed.
The SH-60K helicopters, designed by Sikorsky and known as Seahawk, were engaged in night-time anti-submarine training at the time of the incident. One helicopter lost contact at 10:38 p.m. after sending an emergency signal, while the other lost contact approximately 25 minutes later. The aircraft were based in Nagasaki and Tokushima prefecture, respectively.
Notably, Saturday's training exercise was solely conducted by the Japanese navy and did not involve any foreign aircraft or warships in the vicinity. Japan has been intensifying its military capabilities in the southwestern Japanese islands to counter potential threats, particularly from China's escalating military activities.
This incident comes after previous aviation accidents involving Japanese defense forces, including a UH-60 Blackhawk crash in Miyako last year that resulted in the loss of all 10 crew members, and an Air Self-Defense F-15 fighter jet crash in January 2022 that claimed two lives.
According to Japan's NHK public television, no weather advisories were in effect in the area at the time of the crash. The search and rescue operation continues as authorities work to locate the missing crew members and determine the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident.
