Two japanese military helicopters crash, one dead, 7 missing

• Two Japanese military helicopters collide during Pacific exercise, resulting in one fatality and 7 missing crew members
• Defense Minister confirms collision, announces suspension of related training activities
• Wreckage recovered, investigations underway to determine cause of accident

Two helicopters belonging to the Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force collided during a late-night exercise in the Pacific, resulting in a fatal accident. The incident, which occurred approximately 270 kilometers east of Torishima Island in the Izu island chain, claimed the life of one crew member, while seven others remain unaccounted for. Kyodo News, citing Japan's Defense Minister, reported the tragic collision that occurred during routine training maneuvers.

According to Defense Minister Minoru Kihara, the helicopters purportedly collided mid-air, leading to the subsequent crash. Search efforts following the accident also uncovered wreckage from the aircraft. In response to the incident, Kihara announced the suspension of MSDF training related to SH-60 helicopters. The two helicopters, each with four crew members, lost contact at 10:38 pm on Saturday night, departing from Omura Air Base in Nagasaki and Komatsushima Air Base in Tokushima. Investigations into the cause of the crash are ongoing, with further details awaited.