Japanese Military Helicopter Lost In Waters Near Okinawa During Transport Of 10 Troops, PM Kishida: We Prioritize Safety

Japanese military UH-60 helicopters. (Wikimedia Commons/Los688)

JAKARTA - A Japanese Self-Defense Forces (GSDF) helicopter with 10 personnel on board disappeared in the offshore waters of Okinawa's southern prefecture on Thursday, while what may be part of the helicopter was reportedly found at sea during a search effort.

The UH-60JA multipurpose helicopter disappeared from radar at around 16:30 a.m. near Miyako Island, Okinawa Prefecture, after taking off from there about an hour earlier to carry out surveillance activities, according to the GSDF.

The helicopter was originally scheduled to return to Miyako Island at 17:05 local time, but its whereabouts are unknown about 18 kilometers northwest of the island's airport.

Weather conditions were reported to be normal at the time, with the Japanese Coast Guard ship immediately sent to the nearest waters to search for the helicopter.

The helicopter is based at Camp GSDF Takayubaru, Kumamoto Prefecture, southwest Japan. GSDF said the helicopter carried two pilots, two mechanics, and six crew members, all of whom were members of the Self-Defense Forces.

"We will handle this (incident), by prioritizing the safety of human lives and rescue operations," Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters in Tokyo, adding that the Ministry of Defense was following up.

Located about 400 km east of Taiwan, Miyako Island is home to the GSDF missile unit. The island borders the East China Sea and is close to the Japanese-controlled Senkaku Islands, which Beijing claims.

In March last year, GSDF had 40 UH-60JA helicopters, which can transport up to 14 people and are often used to transport emergency patients from remote islands and areas experiencing natural disasters.