Key Takeaways
- The US Osprey aircraft crashed off a Japanese island, prompting a large rescue operation.
- Eight people were aboard, and their safety status remains unconfirmed.
- The crash site is near Yakushima in Kagoshima Prefecture, with the Japan Coast Guard coordinating the search.
Tokyo: A US Osprey military transport aircraft carrying eight people crashed off Japan’s southwestern island of Yakushima in Kagoshima Prefecture on Wednesday, local media reported.
Patrol boats and aircraft have been sent to search the area.
The incident happened at around 2:47 p.m. local time (0547 GMT), public broadcaster NHK said, citing the Japan Coast Guard.
A spokesperson for the coast guard said it had no further details of the crash including the safety of those onboard.
Patrol boats and aircraft have been sent to search in the area.
