Tokyo: Three people died after a medical helicopter crashed into the sea from South -West Japan, the Coast Guard said on Monday.
On Sunday afternoon, there were a total of six passengers in a helicopter going from Tsushima Island in Nagasaki area to a hospital in Fukuoka city of Fukuoka city.
Hospital chief Riyuji Tominaga told reporters that the accident was “completely heartbreaking”.
Hours after losing communication, six passengers were found by a patrol ship with a helicopter.
The coast of Japan said that an 86-year-old patient, a 68-year-old family member and a 34-year-old doctor were irresponsible and later confirmed the dead.
The other three people, who were found to be holding the helicopter, were conscious, the couple.
An official of the helicopter operator said on Monday that both the pilot and the mechanic were experienced on the board and the weather was not a problem for the flight.
He said that the National Maritime Security Committee will investigate.
According to Asahi Shimbun Daily, a helicopter operated by the same company crashed into the farm in the Fukuoka area, killing two people on the board in July last year.
