In an accident in which a helicopter carrying 10 people, including a division commander of the Ground Self-Defense Force, disappeared around Miyako Island in Okinawa Prefecture, eight executives including the division commander were on board, according to interviews with Ministry of Defense officials.
Several officers, including the division commander, arrived just last month, and the Ground Self-Defense Force is investigating and searching for the island, believing that they were flying around the area to confirm the topography of the island.
In the accident on the afternoon of the 6th, a UH60 utility helicopter of the Ground Self-Defense Force disappeared while flying around Miyako Island in Okinawa Prefecture, and it is known that a total of 8 people were on board, including Division Commander Yuichi Sakamoto, the head of the 10th Division, which has its headquarters in Kumamoto City.
On the afternoon of the 7th, the Ministry of Defense revealed that
the breakdown of the 10 members belonged to the 8th Division Headquarters, including Division Commander Sakamoto,
5 members
of the 8th Squadron operating helicopters, and 4 member of the Miyako Guard at Miyakojima Garrison.
Of the 1 employees, eight were executives, according to interviews with Ministry of Defense officials.
The five members of the 10th Division Command are all executives who play a central role in the headquarters, and the four except for Division Commander Sakamoto are ranks from 8st class to 8rd class colonel.
Division Commander Sakamoto and several other senior officers arrived just last month, and the Ground Self-Defense Force is investigating the island, believing they were flying around the area to check the topography of the island.
On the other hand, in the search so far, lifeboats and doors marked "Ground Self-Defense Force"
▽ rotorcraft blades have been found in
the waters north of Irabu Island, which is connected to Miyako Island by a bridge.
Of these, the Ground Self-Defense Force confirmed that the lifeboat was loaded on a missing helicopter, and it is highly likely that the doors and blades also belonged to this helicopter.
The Ministry of Defense and the Japan Coast Guard are continuing to search the area.