A medical transport helicopter en route from Nagasaki to a hospital in Fukuoka crashed into the sea off southwestern Japan, leaving three dead and three others rescued with injuries, Japanese authorities confirmed.
The aircraft, carrying a medical team and a patient, went down during its mission over coastal waters. The Japan Coast Guard reported that the pilot, 66-year-old Hiroshi Hamada, helicopter mechanic Kazuto Yoshitake, and 28-year-old nurse Sakura Kunitake were found clinging to inflatable life vests in the frigid sea. They were rescued and treated for hypothermia, but are in stable condition and conscious.
Tragically, three others onboard were not so fortunate. Authorities recovered the bodies of 34-year-old doctor Kei Arakawa, 86-year-old patient Mitsuki Motoishi, and her 68-year-old caretaker Kazuyoshi Motoishi, later in the day with the assistance of a Japan Air Self-Defense Force helicopter.
Emergency response was swift, with the Coast Guard deploying multiple aircraft and ships to the crash zone for search and rescue operations.
The helicopter was in transit to deliver the patient to a medical facility in Fukuoka when it went down. Investigators have yet to determine the cause of the crash, and the incident remains under active investigation.
