• 8 months ago
During a nighttime training flight, two Japanese navy helicopters, each carrying four crew members, crashed in the Pacific Ocean south of Tokyo, possibly colliding with each other, according to the country's defence minister on Sunday. Tragically, one crew member recovered from the waters was later declared deceased, while rescuers continued to search for the remaining seven who were still missing. The incident occurred late Saturday near Torishima island, approximately 600 kilometres (370 miles) south of Tokyo, involving two SH-60K choppers from the Maritime Self-Defense Force, Defense Minister Minoru Kihara informed reporters.

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Transcript
00:00 During a night-time training flight, two Japanese Navy helicopters, each carrying four crew
00:05 members, crashed in the Pacific Ocean south of Tokyo, possibly colliding with each other,
00:11 according to the country's defense minister on Sunday.
00:14 Tragically, one crew member recovered from the waters, was later declared deceased, while
00:19 rescuers continued to search for the remaining seven, who were still missing.
00:23 The incident occurred late Saturday near Torishima Island, approximately 600 km south of Tokyo,
00:29 involving two SH-60K choppers from the Maritime Self-Defense Force.
00:35 Defense Minister Minoru Kihara informed reporters.
00:40 The cause of the crash remains unclear, but officials believe the two helicopters likely
00:44 collided before plunging into the ocean, Defense Minister Kihara disclosed.
00:48 As a precautionary measure, all training flights for SH-60s will be temporarily halted, he
00:53 announced.
00:54 Admiral Ryo Sakai, the Navy Chief of Staff, stated that the training will remain suspended
01:00 until an investigation determines the cause and appropriate preventive measures are implemented.
01:06 Recovery efforts yielded a flight data recorder, helicopter blades, and debris from both aircraft
01:11 in close proximity, indicating their close flight paths, Kihara detailed.
01:16 Analysis of the flight data aims to shed light on the events leading to the crash.
01:20 Emergency rescue operations intensified on Sunday with the Maritime Self-Defense Force
01:24 and Air Self-Defense Force deploying a total of 12 warships and seven aircrafts.
01:30 Japan Coast Guard assets also joined the coordinated effort.
01:33 U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel expressed solidarity and offered assistance via social
01:39 media platform X, emphasizing unwavering support for Japan during this challenging time.
01:44 Meanwhile, the involved helicopters, known as Seahawks, were conducting nighttime anti-submarine
01:49 training in the region.
01:50 The modifications in production were undertaken in Japan by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
01:56 The distress signals emitted by the helicopters indicated their close proximity before the
02:00 incident, with both aircraft originating from separate airbases.
02:04 The SH-60K, primarily employed for anti-submarine warfare, search and rescue, and other missions,
02:10 is a critical asset in Japan's defense arsenal, with approximately 70 such helicopters in
02:15 service.
02:16 Saturday's training exercise was solely conducted by the Japanese Navy and not part
02:20 of any multinational drills, defense officials clarified.
02:24 Despite the absence of foreign aircraft or warships in the vicinity, the incident underscores
02:28 the inherent risks associated with military operations.
02:32 Japan's strategic focus on bolstering its military capabilities, particularly in the
02:37 southwestern islands, reflects the ongoing regional tensions, notably stemming from China's
02:42 assertive military maneuvers.
02:44 This incident highlights the importance of ongoing naval exercises and joint drills with
02:49 allies like the US to enhance maritime security and readiness against evolving threats.
03:00 [BLANK_AUDIO]

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