A US military aircraft carrying eight personnel crashed off Yakushima Island in Japan, according to Japan’s coast guard. Rescue efforts located a passenger who was found “not breathing.” Reports suggest the wreckage of the CV-22 Osprey, attempting to land at Yakushima Airport with its left engine ablaze, has been discovered off Yakushima. The aircraft was en route from Iwakuni base in the Yamaguchi region to Kadena base in Okinawa.
Japan’s Chief Cabinet Secretary, Hirokazu Matsuno, stated that the aircraft vanished from radar at 14:40 local time, with a distress call received seven minutes later reporting the crash. The coast guard dispatched six boats and two helicopters, spotting debris and a life raft by 16:00.
Yakushima, situated south of Kyushu island, is where the incident occurred. The Osprey, known for its dual helicopter and turboprop capabilities, has faced safety concerns, particularly from Okinawa residents, given its history of fatal crashes.
With over 50,000 US troops stationed in Japan, the Osprey has experienced previous accidents, including a fatal crash in Australia in August, claiming three lives among 23 occupants during a military exercise. In 2017, three marines lost their lives in another crash off Australia’s northern coast when an Osprey collided with the back of a transport ship while attempting a sea landing.
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