The pilot of the helicopter air ambulance that apparently ditched in waters off western Japan on Sunday has reportedly said he manually deployed emergency floats before reaching the sea surface. Three of the six people on board died in the accident.
The helicopter went missing after it left Tsushima Island in Nagasaki Prefecture for a hospital in Fukuoka City. It was later found floating upside down.
The patient, her son and a doctor died. The three others, including the pilot, are reportedly conscious.
The helicopter was found floating in the sea surface with emergency floats inflated.
Investigative sources told NHK that the hospitalized helicopter pilot said in a hearing with Coast Guard officials that he had deployed the emergency floats before the chopper touched the water surface.
The officials believe some kind of trouble was taking place before the helicopter attempted to land in the sea.
The helicopter went missing after it left Tsushima Island in Nagasaki Prefecture for a hospital in Fukuoka City. It was later found floating upside down.
The patient, her son and a doctor died. The three others, including the pilot, are reportedly conscious.
The helicopter was found floating in the sea surface with emergency floats inflated.
Investigative sources told NHK that the hospitalized helicopter pilot said in a hearing with Coast Guard officials that he had deployed the emergency floats before the chopper touched the water surface.
The officials believe some kind of trouble was taking place before the helicopter attempted to land in the sea.
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Summary
Helicopter air ambulance with six passengers crashed off western Japan, three deaths reported: pilot, patient, and son. The helicopter disappeared after departing from Tsushima Island en route to Fukuoka City, later found upside down in the sea. Three survivors are conscious, including the pilot
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ID: 752c0daa-8416-401f-923f-23a7277c5cea
Category ID: nhk
URL: https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20250407_26/
Date: April 7, 2025
Created: 2025/04/08 07:00
Updated: 2025/12/08 05:01
Last Read: 2025/04/08 13:17