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A U.S. military V-22 Osprey aircraft crashed into the ocean off the coast of western Japan on Wednesday, carrying eight individuals, according to Japan’s coast guard.
According to international medi reports, a coast guard spokesperson stated that there are no additional details available regarding the incident near Yakushima island, including the well-being of those aboard.
The U.S. forces in the region are currently in the process of gathering information about the crash.
The incident occurred around 0547 GMT, and witnesses reported that the aircraft’s left engine seemed to be ablaze as it descended towards the sea, as per Japanese broadcaster MBC.
In a similar incident in August, a U.S. Osprey crashed off northern Australia’s coast during a routine military exercise, resulting in the death of three U.S. Marines.
Additionally, in December 2016, another Osprey crash-landed in the ocean off Japan’s southern island of Okinawa, leading to a temporary grounding of the aircraft by the U.S. military.
The V-22 Osprey, a tilt-rotor plane capable of both helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft flight, is utilized by the U.S. Marines, U.S. Navy, and the Japan Self Defense Forces.
The deployment of Osprey in Japan has sparked controversy, with critics expressing concerns about its accident-proneness, while both the U.S. military and Japan assert its safety.
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