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2 confirmed dead after gov’t helicopter crashes on mountain in Japan
TOKYO, Aug 10,2018 (BSS/XINHUA) — Two people have been confirmed dead
after a local Japanese government helicopter that went missing earlier in the
day was found to have crashed on a mountain in the central Japanese
prefecture of Gunma on Friday.
The condition and possible other fatalities of the other seven members
aboard the chopper remains unknown as the Self-Defense Force and local rescue
officials attempt to attend the scene in extremely foggy conditions, local
authorities said.
According to the authorities, the chopper was one of the prefecture’s
disaster prevention helicopters and lost contact with air traffic controllers
shortly past 10 a.m. local time after taking off at 9:15 a.m. local time.
The helicopter was being flown by Noriyuki Amagai, 57, an experienced
pilot who had logged many flying hours, sources close to the matter said.
The chopper was scheduled to return to its heliport in Maebashi City,
Gunma Prefecture, at 10:45 a.m., prefectural officials said.
The helicopter was supposed to be observing a hiking trail, which spans
Gunma, Nagano and Niigata prefectures when contact was lost, officials said.
The transport ministry said the helicopter was a Bell 412EP helicopter and
had began operations in May 1997, clocking up around 7,000 flight hours.
The same model of helicopter crashed in March last year killing all nine
occupants and in November last year another crash involving the same model
crashed killing four people aboard.
BSS/XINHUA/IJ/1605 hrs