Desperate search for crew in Japan helicopter crash

A major search is underway to locate seven missing people in the Pacific Ocean after an apparent crash of two helicopters on Saturday night. At least one person was killed. 

Rescuers have so far recovered one body as well as two black boxes and debris but are yet to locate the others.  

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida mourned the tragedy in parliament on Monday.

“It is of utmost regret that we lost our personnel as they engaged in very tough, late-night training,” he said.

It’s not clear what caused the crash near the Izu Islands – not far from the mainland. 

Flight records retrieved from both aircraft had not revealed any technical problems, Japan’s Defence Minister Minoru Kihara said.

“Firstly we do our best to save lives,” Mr Kihara said on Sunday, adding the helicopters had been “doing drills to counter submarines at night”.

The two helicopters were both carrying four crew during the drills on Saturday night.

Communication with one helicopter was lost at 22:38 local time off the island of Torishima, broadcaster NHK reported. One minute later, an emergency signal was received from this aircraft.