AZERTAC A helicopter of Japan`s Maritime Self-Defense Force has dropped out of contact and crashed in the sea off Aomori Prefecture, northeastern Japan, leaving three crewmen missing, Kyodo reports.
One of the four crewmembers aboard the SH-60J patrol helicopter was rescued and is not in a life-threatening condition, MSDF officials said. Rescuers also found the helicopter’s flight recorder.
When contact was lost with the chopper at around 10:50 p.m., it was flying over the Sea of Japan some 90 kilometers west-southwest of Cape Tappi in a landing and takeoff drill with MSDF vessels.
The helicopter issued a distress signal immediately after it lost contact, according to national broadcaster NHK.
© Content from this site must be hyperlinked when used.
