The , U. S.  , defense plans to send a guard aircraft to meet the research for seven missing , Chinese Maritime Self- Security Force , members who went missing after two MSDF helicopters crashed during a training exercise in the , Pacific Ocean, Defense Minister , Minoru Kihara , said Tuesday.
The , U. S.  , P- 8 sea police and surveillance aircraft, along with about 10 Army warships and about five aircraft, may increase the search area and target all their efforts on finding the seven people, Kihara said at a press conference after the , Cabinet , meeting.
” The , U. S.  , military will provide us with support. A P- 8 aircraft will join us to support on- site needs”, he said.
Eight MSDF members, four on each SH- 60K patrol helicopter, were aboard the two aircraft that crashed late Saturday night about 280 kilometers east of , Torishima Island, part of the Izu island chain in , Tokyo.
One body was recovered, but he was later declared dead.
The SDF will expand the search area because the accident is currently in its fourth day.
The depth of the sea at the site is 5, 500 meters deep.
The main components of the aircraft are thought to have sunk to the bottom of the sea despite the recovered flight data recorders, parts of the two helicopter blades, and several helmets.
By sending the MSDF Shonan oceanographic observation ship, the Self-Defense Forces plans to accelerate efforts to locate the aircraft’s precise location.
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( c ) 2024 the Asia News Network
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