Two Fatal Helicopter Training Crashes in Asia

Military helicopters have been involved in two separate, fatal accidents in Asia in the last 72 hours.

On April 21, two Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force Mitsubishi SH-60K helicopters, each carrying four crew members, collided during a nighttime training flight in the Pacific Ocean south of Tokyo.

Defence Minister Minoru Kihara noted the cause of the crash is still under investigation. Initial assessments suggest a collision between the SH-60Ks based on the initial recovery of flight data recorder, helicopter blades, and fragments believed to be from both aircraft in the same vicinity.

JMSDF has suspended all service SH-60K training pending further investigation and adoption of preventive measures.

The eight crew members have been declared deceased.

As this article was about to be posted this April 23, two military helicopters collided in mid-air before crashing and killing at least 10 people in Malaysia. The aircraft, an Agusta Westland AW139 Maritime Operations Helicopter (HOM) collided with a Eurocopter (Airbus Helicopter) Fennec. The accident occurred during a training and rehearsal event ahead of the Royal Malaysian Navy’s 90th anniversary celebrations

Defence Minister Mohamed Khaled Nordin said as many as 10 personnel may have died in this accident.

MS&T sends condolences to the families and loved ones of the crews who perished in both incidents.