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The UH-60JA aircraft that was involved in this incident, photographed in 2009. | |
Accident | |
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Date | April 6, 2023 |
Summary | Helicopter crash, under investigation |
Site | Off the coast of Miyako-jima, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan |
Aircraft | |
Aircraft type | Mitsubishi UH-60JA |
Operator | ![]() |
Registration | JG-3106 |
Flight origin | JASDF Miyakojima Sub Base |
Destination | JASDF Miyakojima Sub Base |
Occupants | 10 |
Crew | 10 |
Fatalities | 10 |
Survivors | 0 |
The 2023 Miyakojima helicopter crash was an aircraft accident that occurred on April 6, 2023, when a Japan Ground Self-Defense Force Mitsubishi UH-60JA helicopter carrying 10 people, including the commander of the 8th Division, LTG Yuichi Sakamoto, went missing off the coast of Miyako-jima in Okinawa, Japan.[1][2][3]
The helicopter, which belonged to the 8th Aviation Squadron of the 8th Division, departed the Miyakojima Sub Base of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force to conduct terrain reconnaissance of the island, with Lt. Gen. Sakamoto and Col. Masaichi Iyoda, commander of JGSDF Camp Miyakojima, among the 10 personnel on board.[4] The helicopter vanished from radar at about 18 km (approx. 11 miles) northwest, just two minutes after making contact with air traffic control at Shimojishima Airport.[5]