Japanese Navy helicopters crash in the Pacific Ocean

Japan’s navy continued its search Monday for the whereabouts of seven crew members feared dead after their helicopters crashed in the Pacific Ocean during a nighttime anti-submarine exercise.

Minoru Kihara, Japan’s defense minister, told a news conference that flight recorders recovered from the two crashed helicopters showed no evidence of mechanical problems, suggesting pilot error.

On Sunday, Kihara said the submarine-hunting helicopters had taken off from separate destroyers 170 miles (270 kilometers) east of Torishima, part of Japan’s Izu Islands, about 370 miles (600 kilometers) south of Tokyo.

NewsweekThe map of the crash illustrates the approximate location of the crash site, where Japanese authorities said the sea depth was about 5.4 miles, adding to the challenging rescue operation.

The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s pair of SH-60K helicopters – among three that took part in the naval exercise – lost contact late on Saturday at 10:38 pm and 11:04 pm local time. The Japanese navy received a distress signal at 10:39 p.m., the official said.

Given the proximity of where the flight recorders were recovered, Kihara previously said, defense authorities believed the helicopters may have collided.

One crew member was recovered on Sunday and confirmed dead, said Kihara, who later suspended all SH-60K operations. The crew of the third aircraft involved in the exercise were questioned for more information.

About a dozen ships and seven aircraft were involved in the ongoing search, including some from Japan’s coast guard, Japan’s defense chief said. Helmets and helicopter parts, including rotor blades, have been spotted on the water surface.

Built under license by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the four-seater SH-60K is a variant of the US Navy’s Sikorsky SH-60, also known as the Seahawk. Japan’s air and ground forces each operate their own variants of the twin-engine aircraft.

Japan’s Kyodo news agency broadcast images on Sunday showing the Japanese Navy’s Mayan-class guided missile destroyer JS. Haguro to participate in the search in the waters east of Torishima.

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Monday called the incident “a matter of deepest regret.”

Admiral Ryo Sakai, the Japanese Navy chief of staff, has canceled a planned trip to China, the Defense Ministry said on Sunday. He was invited to a naval symposium in the Chinese coastal city of Qingdao.

Sakai told reporters that no ships or aircraft from other countries were in the area at the time of the crash.

Am. Rahm Emanuel, the US envoy to Tokyo, offered his government support.

“We will stand together, side by side, with our friend and ally Japan. My thoughts are with the crew members and their families and friends during this challenging time,” Emanuel said in a social media post on Sunday.

The latest incident comes after a crew of 10 were killed a year ago this month when a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force UH-60JA crashed in the waters off Miyako Island, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan.

Before that, a Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-15 fighter jet crashed into the Sea of ​​Japan off central Ishikawa Prefecture in January 2022, killing two crew members.

Kishida’s government is likely to come under scrutiny from the press and public after last weekend’s crash. Tokyo is increasing its military training and the frequency of its solo and joint exercises with treaty ally the United States at a time of rising regional tensions with China and North Korea.

Kihara wanted to comment on the link between the extra maneuvers and the recent fatalities, saying the risk of accidents could increase without regular training, especially during “an emergency situation.”