TOKYO — A Japanese navy helicopter with 10 folks on board disappeared from radar on Thursday close to an island within the southern area of Okinawa, military officers stated.
The plane had been on a reconnaissance mission when it went lacking within the afternoon, in what the Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) described as an “aerial accident.”
Search and rescue operations are ongoing, GSDF chief of workers Yasunori Morishita advised reporters.
“To rescue everyone who was on board as soon as possible, we will continue to do our utmost… using the vessels and aircraft of the maritime and air self-defense forces, as well as coastguard patrol ships,” he stated.
What gave the impression to be an plane half had been discovered, but it surely was not clear whether or not it belonged to the helicopter in query, Morishita stated.
Two pilots, two mechanics and 6 crew members had been on board, together with a GSDF common from the eighth division, he added.
The helicopter belonged to the military’s department within the southern Kumamoto area, in line with public broadcaster NHK.
After taking off from Okinawa’s Miyako island earlier than 4:00 pm, it was scheduled to have returned after an hour-long flight, NHK stated.
“Saving lives is our utmost priority,” Prime Minister Fumio Kishida stated whereas briefly addressing reporters, as officers scrambled to evaluate the scenario. — Agence France-Presse
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
