Picture supply, Japan Coast Guard
Japan’s Coast Guard posted images of what’s believed to be the airplane’s wreckage off Yakushima island
A US army plane with six individuals on board has crashed off Yakushima Island in south-western Japan, native officers say.
Japan’s Coast Guard mentioned one particular person had been discovered lifeless close to the crash web site of the CV-22 Osprey hybrid airplane.
It posted images of what’s believed to be the airplane’s wreckage off Yakushima.
Japan’s NHK broadcaster mentioned the airplane’s left engine was on fireplace because it was attempting to land at Yakushima Airport on Wednesday.
An eyewitness advised native TV that the airplane was circling, earlier than exploding and crashing into the ocean.
One other Osprey plane believed to have been flying alongside landed safely at Yakushima, native officers mentioned.
The US army has thus far made no public feedback.
The plane that went down was regarded as heading from Iwakuni base within the western Yamaguchi prefecture to Kadena base within the nation’s south-westernmost Okinawa area.
Japan’s defence ministry mentioned the plane disappeared from the radar at 14:40 native time (05:40 GMT) on Wednesday.
The Coast Guard obtained a misery name 5 minutes later, saying the airplane had crashed.
It then despatched six boats and two helicopters to the scene. At 16:00, the helicopters noticed what seemed like part of the airplane and a life raft, a spokesperson advised the BBC.
Earlier studies mentioned eight individuals had been on board the plane, however that quantity was later revised down by the Coast Guard.
Picture supply, Getty Photos
Japanese media mentioned the CV-22 Osprey was attempting to land at Yakushima Airport when it crashed
Yakushima, in Kagoshima prefecture, is situated south of Japan’s Kyushu island.
The Osprey is an plane that may operate as a helicopter and a turboprop plane.
Greater than 50,000 US troops are stationed throughout Japan.
Osprey plane have been concerned in a string of deadly crashes over time.
In August, a unique mannequin Osprey crashed in northern Australia throughout a army train for domestically based mostly troops, killing three US marines among the many 23 on board.
In 2017, three marines had been killed when an Osprey crashed after clipping the again of a transport ship whereas attempting to land at sea off Australia’s northern coast.
