One person was recovered from the water but later confirmed dead as the search continues for those who remain missing
Two Japanese navy helicopters carrying eight crew members have crashed in the Pacific Ocean, leaving one dead and seven missing.
Japan’s defence minister has said the two helicopters possibly collided with each other as they crashed south of Tokyo during a nighttime training flight.
The two SH-60K choppers from the Maritime Self-Defense Force were carrying four crew each and lost contact late on Saturday near Torishima island, Defence Minister Minoru Kihara told reporters.
The cause was not immediately known, but officials believe the two helicopters “highly likely” collided with each other before crashing into the water, Kihara said.
He added his ministry will suspend training flights for all SH-60s for now.
The navy chief of staff, Adm. Ryo Sakai, …