A Maritime Self-Defense Force ship is seen Sunday morning in the area east of Torishima Island, in the Izu Island chain, during a search after two MSDF helicopters disappeared on Saturday evening.
17:41 JST, April 21, 2024
The morning after two Maritime Self-Defense Force patrol helicopters lost communications near the waters off Torishima Island, a Yomiuri Shimbun aircraft flew over the site of the incident on Sunday.
The two SH-60K planes, each carrying four people, are believed to have collided Saturday during a submarine detection exercise about 175 miles (280 kilometers) east of Torishima island, part of the Izu island chain. The MSDF rescued one person, who was later pronounced dead. Seven people are still missing.
The Yomiuri aircraft approached the site around 8:20 am on Sunday. There were no islands to be seen in the area, but instead a vast ocean stretched out. The sea was calm and there were no whitecaps to be seen.
The search involved five Self-Defense Force ships, including the destroyer Suzunami, which had a helicopter standing by at the rear. Crew members were seen leaning over the railing on the port deck, peering out to sea and looking around with binoculars.
As we flew overhead we could not locate the missing persons or lost aircraft. We left the scene hoping they would be found as quickly as possible.
