Japan- Ground Self-Defense Force UH-60JA Black Hawk helicopter, carrying 10 crew members, disappeared from radar, north of Miyako island, 6 Apr 2023

[dotr]

rbbm

Japanese army helicopter carrying 10 crew members missing

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s coast guard says it is searching for an army helicopter carrying 10 crew members that went missing off a southern Japanese island...

www.thestar.com

''TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s coast guard says it is searching for an army helicopter carrying 10 crew members that went missing off a southern Japanese island.

The coast guard said it received information that a Ground Self-Defense Force UH-60JA Black Hawk helicopter disappeared from radar on a mission Thursday evening in an area north of Miyako island.

It said four patrol ships are participating in the search but have not found any traces of the missing aircraft.

The disappearance near the Japanese island came as the country is aggressively beefing up its defense in the region in response to China’s increasingly assertive military activity in the regional seas, where tension is also rising around Taiwan.

Kyodo News said Japanese coast guard ships found traces of oil and debris that may be related to the missing helicopter, but officials declined to confirm the report.

The Ground Self-Defense Force, or Japanese army, said the helicopter belongs to a base in Kumamoto prefecture on Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu and was visiting Miyako island on a surveillance mission.

NHK public television said the helicopter disappeared from radar about an hour after it departed from a base on Miyako island and about half an hour before its scheduled return.''

 

[meanmaryjean]

I am alerting a mod that the date is incorrect- it is 6 APRIL not March

 

[dotr]

I am alerting a mod that the date is incorrect- it is 6 APRIL not March

Thank you!

 

[dotr]

SDF chopper goes missing near Okinawa with multiple members aboard

The UH60 chopper, carrying several SDF members, disappeared from the GSDF's radar at around 4:30 p.m., sources said.

www.japantimes.co.jp

''A Ground Self-Defense Force helicopter with 10 personnel aboard went missing in waters off Okinawa Prefecture on Thursday, and what could be parts of the chopper were found in the sea during search efforts.''

''The helicopter is based at GSDF Takayubaru camp in Kumamoto Prefecture, and two pilots, two mechanics and six crew, all of whom are Self-Defense Forces members, were on board, the GSDF said.

"We will deal with (the incident), putting maximum priority on human life and rescue operations," Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters in Tokyo, adding that the Defense Ministry is following up.

Located about 400 km east of Taiwan, Miyako Island is home to a GSDF missile unit. It is adjacent to the East China Sea and close to the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands, which are claimed by Beijing.''

 

[dotr]

April 17 2023 by By MARI YAMAGUCHI

2 bodies lifted from sea after Japan army helicopter crash

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s military recovered two bodies of the 10 crew members on an army helicopter that sunk to the bottom of the sea after presumably crashing off a southern Japanese island 11 days ago.

apnews.com

''TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s military recovered two bodies of the 10 crew members on an army helicopter that sunk to the bottom of the sea after presumably crashing off a southern Japanese island 11 days ago.

On Monday, the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force confirmed the deaths of two male crew members recovered by special divers from the 100-meter (330-foot) -deep seabed where they were found with the wreckage and three other crew members. The other five crew members on board at the time of the crash are still missing.''

''Japan is aggressively building up its defense capability in its southwestern islands in response to China’s increasingly assertive military activity in the region, including near Taiwan.

The helicopter was stationed at a key army base in Kumamoto prefecture on Japan’s southern main island of Kyushu, according to the Defense Ministry. One of its 10 crew members was Lt. Gen. Yuichi Sakamoto, who was just promoted to division commander at the end of March.

The army said the helicopter had a routine safety inspection in late March.''

 

[Eli9]

The GSDF is working to quickly ascertain the identities of the four deceased individuals. Among the personnel aboard was Lt Gen Yuichi Sakamoto, 55, commander of the GSDF's 8th Division based in Kumamoto Prefecture.


Speaking to reporters on Monday, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida vowed to do "everything I can to ensure the 10 personnel are returned to their families as soon as possible."


Divers found the five bodies and a section of the chopper at around 8:30 a.m. on Sunday on the ocean floor at a depth of 106 meters, according to the GSDF.


The deep-sea search and recovery of the dead is being conducted using a technique called saturation diving, which allows divers to work at great depths without the need to undergo regular decompression.

2 more bodies recovered from crashed SDF chopper

The confirmed death toll has risen to four in the disappearance of a Japanese Self-Defense Forces helicopter following the recovery of two more bodies during a search for the missing in waters off Okinawa, the Ground Self-Defense Force said Tuesday. One body remains to be recovered after the...

japantoday.com