A US military’s Osprey aircraft carrying eight people crashed into the sea in western Japan, resulting in the death of at least one passenger, confirmed a Japan Coast Guard spokesperson.
The US Osprey aircraft accident was reported to the Coast Guard at approximately 2:47 p.m. local time (12:47 a.m. ET), reported CNN.
According to the spokesperson, after learning of the incident, a patrol boat and plane were sent to the crash site.
According to a British media outlet, three more people were discovered in the nearby waters; their current conditions are unknown.
The Coast Guard said that he saw wreckage from the tilt-rotor V-22 Osprey and a person who seemed to be non-responsive was found about 3 kilometres from Yakushima island.
Another Osprey landed at the island’s airport safely today around the time of the crash, said a spokesperson for the local government.
The US forces, who are in the region, are gathering information about the crash, said a spokesperson.
There are about 54,000 US troops in Japan with a large number in the southern island chain.
As per media reports, witnesses said that the aircraft’s left engine appeared to be on fire as it was descending. Japan also sought an investigation into the crash from the US military.
Osprey is operated by US Marines, the US Navy and Japan Self Defense Forces.
There have been reports that the aircraft is prone to incidents, with the US military and Japan denying the accusations.
In August, another Osprey crashed off the coast of northern Australia which led to the death of three US Marines.
One of the aircraft was crashed in 2016 in Okinawa, Japan.
