At least one person has been reported dead after a US Osprey aircraft crashed into the waters off the coast of Japan earlier today. The aircraft, which was carrying five crew members and two passengers, reportedly crashed after experiencing difficulty during take off.
The accident occurred near the island of Okinawa, approximately 2 kilometers off the coast. According to Japanese Rescue Services, majority of the aircraft was recovered from the site of the accident, however, one of the passengers has been reported dead and the other five are still missing.
The cause of the accident has not yet been determined, though the US military has reported that the aircraft was fully operational during the take off and the mechanical issues occurred after the take off.
Rescue efforts are still continuing and several of the Japanese search and rescue teams are still searching for the missing crew and passengers. Meanwhile, the US military has also sent their own personnel to Hiroshima to help with the rescue effort and investigate the cause of the crash.
This is not the first time a US Osprey Aircraft has been involved in an accident in Japan. In 2017, an Osprey aircraft was involved in a crash in which all crew members survived but the aircraft was significantly damaged.
The Osprey aircraft, which is a hybrid aircraft that takes off, like a helicopter but flies like an airplane, has been in service with the US military since 2007. The aircraft is used for military operations, such as transporting personnel and supplies, search and rescue missions, and humanitarian aid.
The cause of the crash is currently being investigated and an update with further information is expected in the coming days.
