3 weeks ago
Japan's Defense Minister Minoru Kihara holds a property convention connected Oct. 16, 2023. On Sunday, he announced that 1 unit personnel who was rescued pursuing nan clang of 2 subject helicopters a time anterior had died. File Photo by Keizo Mori/UPI | License Photo
April 21 (UPI) -- One rescued unit personnel has died and 7 others remained missing aft 2 Japanese subject helicopters seemingly collapsed during a training workout precocious Saturday complete nan Pacific Ocean, Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said.
The 2 Maritime Self-Defense Force SH-60 helicopters and their mixed 8 unit were conducting an anti-submarine warfare training workout complete nan Pacific Ocean astir 150 nautical miles eastbound of nan uninhibited Japanese land of Torishima erstwhile they mislaid communication astatine astir 10:38 p.m. section clip Saturday.
Search-and-rescue operations were launched, and 1 unit personnel was recovered. During a property conference Sunday, Kihara said nan rescued unit personnel has died. The unit member's assemblage has since been transferred to Yokosuka Hospital wherever it will beryllium autopsied.
"I would for illustration to definitive my sincere condolences," he said.
Kihara explained during an earlier property conference Sunday that a twelve ships and 7 craft from nan Maritime Self-Defense Force on pinch 2 vessels and 1 craft from nan Japan Coast Guard person been deployed to nan clang tract successful hunt of nan missing 7 unit members.
"We will proceed to dedicate ourselves afloat to nan rescue of lives," he said.
Flight recorders of nan 2 craft person been recovered, he said, adding they were located successful adjacent proximity to each other.
"We will thoroughly analyse nan origin of nan crash, including nan anticipation of a collision betwixt nan 2 aircraft," he said.
In consequence to nan incident, each training flights involving Maritime Self-Defense Force SH-60 helicopters person been suspended.
Rahm Emanuel, U.S. ambassador to Japan, said nan U.S. authorities has offered its assistance successful nan search-and-rescue operation.
"We will guidelines together, broadside by side, pinch our friend and ally, Japan," he said connected X. "My thoughts are pinch nan unit members and their families and friends during this challenging time."
The incident comes a small much than a twelvemonth aft a Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force UH-60JA multipurpose chopper crashed disconnected nan seashore of Miyako Island, sidesplitting each 10 unit members.
