Two Japanese navy helicopters crashed into the sea during a training exercise, killing at least one of the eight crew members on board, Reuters reports citing the defence minister.
The two SH-60 patrol helicopters were conducting anti-submarine exercises on Saturday night near Torishima in the remote Izu island group, off the southern coast of central Japan.
Defense Minister Minoru Kihara told a press conference the cause of the crash is under investigation. The two flight recorders had been discovered in close proximity to each other and the probability was high that the two helicopters had collided, he added.
Japan's Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) and Coast Guard are searching for the remaining seven crew members.
