- Two Japanese navy helicopters went down in the sea while participating in a training exercise.
- Investigations are ongoing to determine what caused the tragedy.
- Yoshitaka Sakai stated that he did not think foreign intervention was involved in the disaster.
Near Torishima, off the southern coast of central Japan, two Japanese navy helicopters went down in the sea while participating in a training exercise.
Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said that since the two flight recorders were discovered so near to one another, there was a high likelihood of a collision.
Navy helicopters crash
Investigations are ongoing to determine what caused the tragedy. Exercises against submarines were being carried out by the two helicopters. The seventh and final crew member is being sought after by Japan’s Coast Guard and Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF).
Former Chief of Staff of the MSDF Yoshitaka Sakai stated earlier on Saturday that he did not think foreign intervention was involved in the disaster. Ambassador of the United States to Japan Rahm Emanuel extended his nation’s support in search and rescue operations in a post on X.
