Japanese army chopper carrying crew 'disappears'

ISTANBUL

A Japanese helicopter carrying several crew members has gone off the radar, the country’s Defense Ministry officials said on Thursday.

Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force helicopter UH60 was flying around Miyako Island in Okinawa province when it disappeared from radar, Japanese public broadcaster NHK reported.

An intense search is underway to locate the helicopter, which is “believed” to have “several members on board,” the report said.

Okinawa province consists of more than 150 islands in the East China Sea between Taiwan and Japan's mainland.