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 The UH-60JA aircraft that was involved in this incident, photographed in 2009. | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| 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 |  Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) |
| 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]
- ^ "Lifeboat from missing Japan SDF helicopter found". Nikkei Asia. 2023-04-07. Archived from the original on 2023-04-07. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ Jozuka, Emiko; Lendon, Brad (2023-04-07). "Japanese military helicopter crashes in sea with 10 on board". CNN. Archived from the original on 2023-04-07. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ Yamaguchi, Mari (2023-04-06). "Debris found in search for GSDF copter presumed to have crashed into sea". Japan Today. Archived from the original on 2023-04-06. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ "陸自ヘリ不明「航空事故」 師団長ら１０人搭乗、偵察訓練中 宮古島周辺". 産経ニュース (in Japanese). Sankei Shimbun. 2023-04-06. Archived from the original on 2023-04-08. Retrieved 2023-04-08.
- ^ "１０人乗せ消息絶った陸自ヘリ、坂本雄一師団長ら幹部自衛官が８人…２分前に管制と交信". 読売新聞オンライン (in Japanese). Yomiuri Shimbun. 2023-04-07. Archived from the original on 2023-04-07. Retrieved 2023-04-08.