During a nighttime drill in the Pacific Ocean near the Izu Islands, tragedy struck as two Japanese naval crewmen lost their lives and seven others went missing following the crash of two Mitsubishi SH-60K helicopters.
These twin-engine aircraft were engaged in anti-submarine training approximately 600 kilometers (372 miles) south of Tokyo.Debris, including fragments of rotor blades, and two flight recorders were discovered in close proximity to each other, indicating the severity of the incident. Defence Minister Minoru Kihara expressed condolences for the lives lost and emphasized the helicopters’ purpose of conducting anti-submarine drills under the cover of night.Communication with one helicopter was abruptly severed at 22:38 local time (14:38 BST) near Torishima Island, followed by an emergency distress signal from the same aircraft one minute later.
Within a span of 25 minutes, communication was also lost with the second helicopter, which shared the same fate.The Mitsubishi SH-60K helicopters, modeled after the Sikorsky Seahawk, are primarily deployed from naval destroyers. Despite the extensive search and rescue efforts, only one crew member was retrieved from the waters, tragically confirmed to have perished.
Amidst the ongoing investigation, the Japanese navy ruled out the involvement of any other countries in the incident, citing the absence of foreign vessels or aircraft in the vicinity. This incident underscores Japan’s commitment to bolstering its defense capabilities in the face of regional challenges, particularly in light of escalating tensions with China in the Taiwanese region.
This isn’t the first aviation tragedy to strike Japan’s military forces. In April 2023, a Japanese army UH60 Black Hawk helicopter crashed off Miyako Island in southern Okinawa, claiming the lives of all 10 individuals on board, including senior Ground Self-Defense Force commander Lieutenant General Yuichi Sakamoto.
