Japan’s Coast Guard reported the discovery of a deceased individual near the site of a recent aircraft crash.
The CV-22 Osprey, a hybrid aircraft capable of operating as both a helicopter and a turboprop plane, was reportedly attempting to land at Yakushima Airport with one of its engines ablaze, according to Japan’s NHK broadcaster. The United States has not yet issued a statement regarding the incident.
Ospreys have a history of involvement in several deadly accidents. The aircraft involved in Wednesday’s crash was believed to be en route from the Iwakuni base in Yamaguchi prefecture to the Kadena base in Okinawa.
The Japanese defense ministry noted that the aircraft vanished from radar at 14:40 local time (05:40 GMT) on Wednesday, and a distress call was received five minutes later, indicating a crash.
In response, the Coast Guard dispatched six boats and two helicopters to the crash site. Around 16:00, the search teams identified potential debris from the plane and a life raft, as reported by a spokesperson to the BBC.
Initial reports suggested eight passengers, but the Coast Guard later revised this figure.
Photographs believed to be of the wreckage off Yakushima were shared by the Coast Guard.
An eyewitness described to local media seeing the plane circle, explode, and then crash into the sea. Another Osprey, which was reportedly flying alongside, managed to land safely at Yakushima. This island, part of Kagoshima prefecture, lies south of Kyushu in Japan.
Japan hosts over 50,000 US troops. In August, a different Osprey model crashed in northern Australia during a military exercise, resulting in the deaths of three US marines among the 23 onboard. A similar incident in 2017 saw three marines perish when an Osprey clipped a transport ship while attempting a sea landing off Australia’s northern coast.
