A US military aircraft, a CV-22 Osprey, crashed off Yakushima Island in southwestern Japan with six people on board.
Japan’s Coast Guard reported one person found dead near the crash site. The hybrid plane attempted to land at Yakushima Airport with one engine on fire, according to Japan’s NHK broadcaster.
Ospreys, capable of helicopter and turboprop functions, have a history of fatal crashes.
The aircraft, traveling from Iwakuni base to Kadena base, disappeared from radar at 14:40 local time on Wednesday.
The Coast Guard received a distress call five minutes later, deploying six boats and two helicopters. At 16:00, helicopters spotted a potential wreckage and a life raft.
Initial reports of eight people on board were later revised down.
Eyewitnesses mentioned the plane circling before exploding and crashing into the sea. Another Osprey flying alongside landed safely at Yakushima.
Photos of the wreckage off Yakushima were posted by the Coast Guard.
