Japan’s Coast Guard is conducting search and rescue operations for a navy helicopter that disappeared from radar Thursday off the nation’s southwest islands close to Taiwan.
Yasunori Morishita, head of the Japan Ground Self Defense Force (GSDF), stated at a news convention Thursday that the Black Hawk is believed to have crashed into the ocean after objects showing to be plane elements have been noticed within the space.
Officials with the GSDF stated the helicopter had 10 individuals 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 tells VOA the U.S. navy 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.
Prime Minister Fumio Kishida advised reporters in Tokyo that the federal government was placing most precedence on human life and rescue operations and stated the Defense Ministry can be following up.
Some data for this report was supplied by The Associated Press and Reuters.