No foreign involvement in helicopter crash

A senior Maritime Self-Defense Force official said early Sunday that there was no foreign involvement in the accident involving two MSDF helicopters near the Izu island chain.

Admiral Ryo Sakai, MSDF chief of staff, said at a news conference that the two helicopters were conducting an anti-submarine exercise involving MSDF submarines, ships and aircraft.

Sakai added that there were no ships or vehicles from other countries in the area. “I think it is reasonable to assume that no other countries are involved,” Sakai said.