A tragic incident unfolded as at least one person lost their life on Wednesday when a US military Osprey aircraft crashed off the coast of Japan’s Yakushima Island in Kagoshima prefecture. Initially reported to have eight individuals on board, the Coast Guard later confirmed six occupants.
Details remain scarce regarding the passengers and the cause behind the crash, as disclosed by a Japan Coast Guard spokesperson. The US official confirmed the crash but provided no update on the crew’s condition.
The Coast Guard was alerted about the crash around 2:47 p.m. local time and has deployed resources, including patrol boats and aircraft, to the crash site.
According to Japan’s vice defense chief, the military Osprey made an “emergency water landing.” Reports indicated that the US military requested an emergency landing at Kagoshima Airport, as revealed by a Kagoshima prefectural official.
In response to the crash, Okinawa Prefecture’s government urged the grounding of all Ospreys stationed in the island chain due to safety concerns. Governor Denny Tamaki expressed deep regret over the incident during a press conference.
This crash marks another unfortunate incident involving Osprey aircraft. Over the years, there have been reported accidents, including the recent one in Australia where three Marines lost their lives. Previous crashes in 2022 in California and Norway also resulted in casualties.
The Osprey, known for its vertical takeoff capability like a helicopter and the cruising ability of a turboprop plane, has a history of both operational and mechanical issues, despite being generally considered safe for flight.
