Japan’s Coast Guard is constant search and rescue operations Friday for the Japanese army helicopter that disappeared from radar Thursday off the nation’s southwest islands close to Taiwan.
Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada, apparently struggling to carry again tears, mentioned not one of the plane’s lacking crew members have been discovered, in response to The Associated Press.
Yasunori Morishita, head of the Japan Ground Self Defense Force, mentioned at a news convention Thursday that the Black Hawk helicopter is believed to have crashed into the ocean after objects showing to be plane components have been noticed within the space.
Officials with the GSDF say the helicopter had 10 folks on board and was conducting surveillance actions close to the island of Miyakojima, about 400 kilometers east of Taiwan. The plane vanished from radar at 4:33 p.m. native time Thursday and has not responded to radio communications.
Japan coast guard ships have been dispatched, and the GSDF joined the search. A U.S. protection official advised VOA the U.S. army has provided help for the search and rescue operations.
Officials say the helicopter took off from Miyakojima earlier than 4 p.m. and was scheduled to return to the island after 5 p.m.
JT, quoting the Defense Ministry, experiences the helicopter is predicated on the GSDF’s Camp Takayubaru in Kumamoto prefecture, and two pilots, two mechanics and 6 crew, all of whom are Self-Defense Forces members, have been on board.
The helicopter had a routine security inspection in late March, the AP reported.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida advised reporters in Tokyo that the federal government was placing most precedence on human life and rescue operations and mentioned the Defense Ministry could be following up.
Some info for this report was offered by The Associated Press and Reuters.