A United States military V-22 Osprey aircraft with eight people onboard has crashed into the ocean in western Japan on Wednesday, leaving one killed..
The crash occurred at approximately 2:47 p.m. local time (0547 GMT) near Japan’s Yakushima Island.
Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft’s left engine appear to be on fire as it descended towards the sea.
A spokesperson for the Japan Coast Guard confirmed the incident but provided no further details, including the status of those onboard.
A spokesperson for US forces in the region stated that they were still gathering information about the incident.
This marks the third Osprey crash in recent years. In August 2023, a U.S. Osprey crashed off the coast of northern Australia while transporting troops, killing three US Marines.
In December 2016, another Osprey crash-landed in the ocean off Japan’s southern island of Okinawa, prompting a temporary grounding of the aircraft by the US military.
The tilt-rotor plane, which can operate both as a helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft, is used by the U.S. Marines, US Navy, and the Japan Self Defense Forces.
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The deployment of the Osprey in Japan has been controversial, with critics citing its history of accidents.
The US military and Japan maintain that the Osprey is a safe aircraft, as rescue efforts are currently underway.
(BBC)