TOKYO — A tragic accident occurred in southwestern Japan as a medical transport helicopter plunged into the sea, resulting in the loss of a patient and two others, confirmed the Japan Coast Guard. The aircraft was en route to a hospital in Fukuoka, departing from an airport in Nagasaki prefecture, when the incident took place.
Emerging from the waters with the assistance of the coast guard were the pilot, Hiroshi Hamada, aged 66; helicopter mechanic, Kazuto Yoshitake, and a nurse, Sakura Kunitake, aged 28. Despite experiencing hypothermia, all three were found clinging to inflatable lifesavers, conscious and awaiting rescue. Their retrieval marked a somber yet hopeful moment in the midst of tragedy, as they were transported to safety by the coast guard, a detail confirmed by an official who wished to remain anonymous.
In the aftermath, clarification emerged concerning the mechanic’s name, initially reported differently but later corrected by authorities. In contrast, the grim task of recovering the bodies of medical doctor Kei Arakawa, aged 34; patient Mitsuki Motoishi, aged 86, and her caretaker Kazuyoshi Motoishi, aged 68, was undertaken by a helicopter from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.
The rescue operation was extensive, deploying two planes and three ships to the crash site as responders worked swiftly against time and elements. The incident casts a shadow as official investigations continue to unravel the cause behind the helicopter’s fateful demise into the sea.