What Crew Members Say About Heiyo

On April 18, 2023, the survey ship 'Heiyo' became part of the extensive search operation for the victims of a tragic helicopter crash involving a UH-60JA Black Hawk from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. This helicopter went down in the East China Sea on April 6, shortly after 3:56 PM, during a reconnaissance mission approximately 11 miles northwest of Miyako Airport, carrying a total of 10 personnel. Among those on board were Lieutenant General Yuichi Sakamoto, newly appointed commander of the Ground Self-Defense Force’s 8th Division, along with five staff members from the division, four from the Air Self-Defense Force’s 8th Wing, and a Camp Miyako security officer. Sadly, the search efforts have led to the recovery of two additional bodies from the wreckage as of April 17. Divers managed to retrieve one body in the morning and another later that day. Communication with air traffic control revealed that the helicopter's crew made their last contact roughly two minutes prior to the aircraft disappearing from radar, without any indication of emergencies in-flight. A significant breakthrough came on April 13, when sonar and underwater cameras helped locate a fuselage section containing several bodies around 10 PM. Following this, a remotely operated underwater vehicle assessed the wreckage situation on April 14, confirming extensive damage. Adverse weather conditions delayed divers until April 16, but since then, over 20 fragments, including parts of the nose, rotor blade, and fuel tank, have been recovered. While four victims' remains have been identified and transferred to an Air Self-Defense Force base on Miyako Island for confirmation, one body still remains within the fuselage section discovered on April 16. Currently, search operations involve five surveillance aircraft, alongside seven vessels from the Japanese navy and coast guard, supported by a dedicated team of 360 personnel, as they continue the hunt for the remaining five missing crew members and parts of the helicopter. Discussions are also ongoing regarding the involvement of private companies to further assist in the recovery efforts.