On the afternoon of the 6th, a Ground Self-Defense Force helicopter disappeared around Miyako Island in Okinawa Prefecture.

So far, parts such as window frames and rotors that are believed to be part of the aircraft have been found, but there are 10 people on board the helicopter, including the division commander, and the Self-Defense Forces and the Japan Coast Guard are continuing to search.

Why did the helicopter disappear? We have summarized in detail the flight route, the situation at that time, clues, etc.

【Updated from time to time】Door and rotary blade "blades" also recovered, 10 people still unknown

We update the latest information from time to time.

What was the flight route and the situation at that time?

According to the Ministry of Defense, the track disappeared from one UH8JA utility helicopter belonging to the 8th Squadron of the 60th Division of the Ground Self-Defense Force.

I summarized the steps.

[Takeoff at 1:6 on the 15th]
A helicopter takes off from the Air Self-Defense Force Miyakojima Detachment Base. After flying over the sky to check the surrounding terrain, they were scheduled to land at the same base at 46:5 p.m.

[Last communication at 5:6 on the 15th]
The helicopter may have communicated with the controller of the airport on Shimoji Island adjacent to Irabu Island at 54:2 p.m. on the 6th, two minutes before the wake disappeared.

[Disappears from radar around 3:54 on the 6th]
The wake disappeared from the radar while flying over the sea between Miyako Island and Irabu Island. At that time, there were no problems with weather conditions such as wind speed and visibility around Miyako Island, and it was said that they were flying visually.

The fuel on board the helicopter ran out around 15:56 p.m., four hours after takeoff, so it was judged to be an aviation accident.

Clues in the field are

Flotsam that appears to be part of the flight route and the aircraft

According to the Japan Coast Guard, the helicopter's wake disappeared from radar about 18 kilometers northwest of Miyako Airport and about 2 kilometers northeast of the northern end of Irabu Island, which is connected to Miyako Island by a bridge, and the water depth is about 100 meters.

When the Japan Coast Guard dispatched a patrol boat to search, several drifting objects that appeared to be parts of the aircraft, such as doors and lifeboats, were found.

We have summarized what was discovered in chronological order.

What appears to be a part of the aircraft

[6th 18:24 What seems to be a part of the aircraft]
At 6:6 p.m. on the 24th, what appeared to be a part of the aircraft was found in the vicinity of the area that disappeared from radar.

Lifeboat in a folded state

[6:18 on the 30th, I found a lifeboat]
At around 6:6 p.m. on the 4th, a folded lifeboat with the words "Ground Self-Defense Force" was found in the sea area about 7 kilometers north of the position where it disappeared from the radar.
([May 8, 16:<>] I found another lifeboat)

Window frame that appears to be part of the fuselage

[6th 17:03 Found the window frame]
A window frame was found about three kilometers north of the aircraft, believed to be part of the aircraft.

Door with "Ground Self-Defense Force" written on it

[After 7:02 on the 00th, I found the door]
Shortly after 7 a.m. on the 2th, a door with the words "Ground Self-Defense Force" was found in the waters about 7 kilometers north of where the lifeboat was found.

"Blades" of rotor blades

[Around 7:03 on the 30th, a part of the rotor blades was found]
At about 3:1 a.m., a new rotorcraft "blade" was found in the waters south of the area and salvaged.

Both were found in the northern waters of Irabu Island, which is connected to Miyako Island by a bridge. The Japan Coast Guard has newly dispatched one large patrol vessel to search with five vessels.

Multiple testimonies of sightings also "flying low"

Some residents of Ikema Island, located on the north side of Miyako Island, have seen helicopters flying at low altitude or heard loud noises during the time when the wake of the Ground Self-Defense Force helicopter disappeared from radar.

[6:15~00:16 on the 00th]
(Male fisherman, at Ikema Fishing Port) "I think it was between 3 and 4 pm, but when I was working with a friend,
I heard a loud noise and saw a helicopter flying at low altitude. If I had fallen on the island, I think it would have been a big problem."

[Around 6:16 on the 00th]
(Male fisherman at his home on the south side of Ikema Fishing Port)
"At about 4 p.m., I heard a pretty loud noise, so I was startled and went out onto the balcony, and when I saw the news that the helicopter had disappeared, I thought, 'Did this helicopter fall?' It was quite loud that you don't hear often, so I think I was flying low."

[Around 6:16 on the 00th]
(Male at home on the south side of Ikema Island)
"I think it was about 6 p.m. on the 4th, but after I put the car in the house grounds, I got out of the car and saw a helicopter flying from east to west. There was a loud noise and the color looked like black," he said, adding, "I pray for the safety of everyone on board."

What is UH60JA?

According to Koichi Isobe, who is familiar with helicopter operations and served as the Ground Self-Defense Force's Inspector General of the Eastern Area, the UH60JA is "mainly used for personnel transportation in the Ground Self-Defense Force, and can carry about 5 people, including five crew members. It is equipped with two engines, so even if there is a problem with one of them, it can fly for a while on the other and land nearby."

In addition, according to the websites of the Ground Self-Defense Force and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, the UH15JA is a multi-purpose helicopter that the Ground Self-Defense Force began deploying in 2 and is deployed at garrisons in various regions.

In response to this accident, the Ground Self-Defense Force has suspended flights of the same type of aircraft deployed nationwide, but missions such as "disaster dispatch" including emergency transportation are excluded from the suspension.