US military planes to search for MSDF members; 7 Still missing since two MSDF helicopters crashed during training exercise

The US military plans to send a patrol plane to join the search for seven missing members of Japan’s Maritime Self-Defense Force who went missing after two MSDF helicopters crashed during a training exercise in the Pacific Ocean, Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said Tuesday.

The US P-8 maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft, together with about ten SDF warships and about five aircraft, will expand the search area and focus all their efforts on finding the seven people, Kihara said at a news conference after the cabinet meeting.

“The US military will provide us with support. A P-8 aircraft will join us to support needs on the ground,” he said.

Eight MSDF members, four on each SH-60K patrol helicopter, were aboard the two planes that crashed late Saturday evening about 175 miles (280 kilometers) east of Torishima island, part of Tokyo’s Izu island chain.

One member was recovered but was pronounced dead.

As the accident enters its fourth day, the SDF will expand the search area.

The depth of the sea at the site is 5,500 meters deep.

Although the flight data recorders, parts of the blades of the two helicopters and several helmets have been recovered, the main parts of the aircraft are believed to have sunk to the bottom of the sea.

The Self-Defense Forces plan to accelerate efforts to determine the exact location of the aircraft by sending the oceanographic observation ship MSDF Shonan.