All 9 aboard rescue chopper crashed in Japan confirmed dead
TOKYO (AP) – Japanese authorities say all nine people aboard a search and rescue helicopter that crashed into the central mountains are confirmed dead.
The Bell 412EP helicopter carrying seven local rescue workers from the Gunma prefecture and two from a flight service company lost contact an hour after takeoff Friday and crashed.
Prefectural officials say the last person aboard was retrieved Saturday and pronounced dead.
The wreckage of Gunma prefectural air rescue helicopter Haruna is seen after crashing in Nakanojo town, Gunma prefecture, northwest of Tokyo Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. The wreckage of the Japanese search and rescue helicopter with nine people aboard was found in central Japan mountains Friday hours after it lost contact, and two of them were found dead near the aircraft crash site. (Akiko Matsushita/Kyodo News via AP)
The helicopter was on a two-hour flight to monitor a mountain trail. The cause of the crash is under investigation.
Japanese media quoted witnesses as saying the helicopter was flying extremely low in foggy weather before the crash.
This undated photo from website of Gunma Prefectural Fire Safety Division shows the air rescue helicopter Haruna. The rescue helicopter has crashed in central Japan mountains Friday, Aug. 10, 2018, hours after it lost contact and the condition of nine people aboard is not immediately clear. (Gunma Prefectural Fire Safety Division via AP)
The wreckage of Gunma prefectural air rescue helicopter Haruna is seen after crashing in Nakanojo town, Gunma prefecture, northwest of Tokyo Friday, Aug. 10, 2018. The rescue helicopter has crashed in central Japan mountains hours after it lost contact and the condition of nine people aboard is not immediately clear. (Akiko Matsushita/Kyodo News via AP)
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