JAPAN MARITIME SELF-DEFENCE FORCE CHOPPER'S WRECKAGE FOUND ON SEAFLOOR: MEDIA

TOKYO, July 20 (Bernama-Xinhua) -- The wreckage of a Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force (JMSDF) helicopter that disappeared in April has been discovered on the seafloor on Saturday, with another possible aircraft nearby, reported Xinhua, citing local media. 

The discovery followed an accident in April where two JMSDF helicopters collided and crashed during training off the Izu Islands, resulting in the deaths of eight crew members.

The Ministry of Defence had tasked the Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC) with conducting a deep-sea search using unmanned submersibles due to the site's depth of approximately 5,500 metres, according to national broadcaster NHK.

As of Friday, JAMSTEC's unmanned probe Deep Tow, equipped with advanced sonar and cameras capable of exploring depths of up to 6,000 metres, located one of the downed helicopters.

Identification was confirmed through the matching aircraft number.

Further investigation revealed another object in the vicinity, believed to be the second missing helicopter, the report said.

Further verification is underway to determine the feasibility of retrieving the wreckage.

The Ministry of Defence will carefully assess the underwater conditions to decide on the next steps for the potential salvage operation, according to NHK.  

-- BERNAMA-XINHUA