27 August, 2017
The SDF and the Japan Coast Guard's second regional headquarters, based in Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture, are searching for the missing crew members.
Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) vessels and helicopters are searching for crew members of an MSDF helicopter that may have crashed into the sea off Aomori Prefecture late on August 26, according to the Defense Ministry.
One of the four crew members aboard the helicopter was rescued 40 minutes after the MSDF lost contact with the SH-60J patrol chopper but is not in a life-threatening condition, MSDF officials said. One crew member had been rescued uninjured. At that time, helicopters carried aboard three destroyers, including the Setogiri, were participating in the exercise. It sent a distress signal just before contact was lost.
The helicopter is based at the MSDF's Ominato Base in Mutsu, Aomori Prefecture.
The MSDF set up a special team at the Maritime Staff Office to investigate the accident.
Part of the wreckage was found and the helicopter's flight data recorder recovered from the sea around the crash area, Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera told reporters in Tokyo, adding all helicopters of that type have been grounded.
