Why coast of Japan is so turbulent: A look at major aircraft accidents in the region

Japan’s SH-60K anti-submarine helicopter and a part of a crashed U.S. military Osprey aircraft on a US salvage boat off Yakushima. Source: File Photo / AP

One died and seven others went missing after two Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force (MSDF) helicopters crashed while conducting a drill in the Pacific region.

The Japanese defence ministry stated that the two helicopters lost contact in an area of Torishima Island in the Izu Island chain. The incident took place late Saturday while the helicopters were involved in conducting a nighttime anti-submarine drill in the area, Kyodo News reported.

MSDF noted that the SH-60K aircraft were each carrying four crew members. They lost contact late Saturday at 10:38 pm and 11:04 pm (local time). The authorities spotted what was believed to have been the helicopter debris during a post-accident search.

However, it is pertinent to note that this is not the first time the Japanese waters witnessed such a tragic incident. Here’s a look at some of the mishaps the coast of Japan has witnessed in recent years.

Osprey aircraft crash – November 29, 2023

A US military Osprey aircraft crashed into the ocean near the small southern Japanese island of Yakushima with eight people on board. After a prolonged search operation conducted by the American and Japanese search teams, six bodies were found in the wreckage of the military aircraft.

The devastating crash prompted the Japanese authorities to ask the United States to ground its Osprey planes in Japan. The grounding was lifted in March 2024.

The Pentagon eventually stated that mechanical failure led to the fatal crash of the US military aircraft.

Miyakojima helicopter crash  – April 2023

Japan’s UH60 troop transport, commonly known as the Black Hawk, disappeared from radar tracking after leaving a Ground Self Defense Force base on Miyakojima, General Yasunori Morishita. The helicopter was carrying 10 people and eventually crashed in the sea near Miyakojima which is part of the country’s southwest Okinawa island chain.

This was the deadliest accident involving a GSDF aircraft and surpassed the helicopter crash in Ehime Prefecture, western Japan, in 1968 which left eight people dead.

Due to a lack of information, the authorities have yet to determine what exactly caused the helicopter crash. However, many believed that it happened due to an engine failure.

SH-60 K crash – 2017

Another SH-60 helicopter crashed in waters off Tappizaki Cape in Aomori Prefecture. Two out of three crew members aboard were eventually found dead. The remaining member was never found.

OH-6DA helicopter crash – 2015

Three crew members died after a Japanese military helicopter named OH-6DA crashed after it went missing in the southern region of Kyushu.

The authorities found that poor weather played a major role in the tragic incident. The helicopter crashed after the crew changed their flight plan mid-air due to the treacherous conditions.

US military helicopter crash – 2013

A US military helicopter crashed at a Marine base in Okinawa. The aircraft had four crew members out of which three were rescued safely. The fourth crew member also managed to survive injuries.

The crash took place at Camp Hansen which is a US base on the southern Japanese island of Okinawa.

How weather plays a major role in aircraft accidents

The Pacific region generally faces stormy conditions which often lead to such crashes. An aircraft would not be safe to fly over the Pacific Ocean due to the stormy weather and frequent lightning that strikes the region.

Jet streams, which are a system of air currents that circle the Earth are another reason why commercial aircraft avoid flying over the Pacific Ocean.

Due to Earth’s rotation, the air currents tend to move from West to East. If an aircraft is flying against a jet stream, it tends to encounter extreme turbulence and might be damaged.