Two Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopters collided during a nighttime anti-submarine drill in the Pacific Ocean, leaving one crew member dead and seven others missing.
The incident occurred around 270 kilometers east of Torishima Island in the Izu Island chain, south of Tokyo. The two SH-60K helicopters, each carrying four crew members, lost contact at 10:38 p.m. and 11:04 p.m., respectively.
An emergency signal was received at 10:39 p.m., and a search and rescue operation was launched. Two flight recorders and debris from the helicopters were found at the crash site.
The cause of the collision is still unknown, but the Ministry of Defense has suspended all training involving SH-60K helicopters and set up a panel to investigate the incident.
The MSDF's SH-60K helicopters are modeled after the U.S. Navy's SH-60 choppers and have their own anti-submarine system. They have a length of 19.8 meters and a weight of 10.9 tons, and can carry up to four people.
In April 2022, a UH-60JA helicopter of the Ground Self-Defense Force crashed into the sea in Okinawa Prefecture, killing all 10 people on board.