Two Japanese navy helicopters crashed into the sea during a training exercise, killing at least one of the eight crew members on board, the defence minister said on Sunday.
The two SH-60 patrol helicopters were conducting anti-submarine exercises on Saturday night near Torishima in the remote Izu island group, off the southern coast of central Japan.
Defence Minister Minoru Kihara told a press conference the cause of the crash is under investigation. The two flight recorders had been discovered in close proximity to each other and the probability was high that the two helicopters had collided, he added.
Japan's Maritime Self-Defence Force (MSDF) and Coast Guard are searching for the remaining seven crew members.
Earlier on Saturday, MSDF Chief of Staff Yoshitaka Sakai indicated he did not believe there involvement from another country in the crash.
In a post on X, US ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel offered his country's assistance in search and rescue efforts.
UN establishes task force to address Hormuz navigation challenges
Bahrain contain fire at 'facility' after Iran attack
Rubio says Iran war to last 'weeks not months'; no ground troops needed
NASA's Artemis astronauts enter final preparations for Moon mission
Iran-linked hackers breach FBI director's personal email
Trump extends deadline for striking Iran's energy plants to April 7
Israeli evacuation orders uproot 370,000 children in Lebanon, UN says
UN rights chief urges US to conclude probe into deadly Iran school strike
