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MAEBASHI, GUNMA PREF. – A helicopter crashed in a village Northwest of Tokyo on Wednesday afternoon, killing four helicopter company employees who were on Board, local authorities said.
The helicopter crashed at about 14: 30 and caught fire in the village of Gunma Prefecture in Ueno, where a Japan Airlines plane crashed in 1985.
The Operator Toho Air Service Co. said the four employees in the accident were 60-year-old pilot Ichiro Kitagawa three mechanics – two in their 20s and one in his 50s.
Damage to the surrounding residential area has not been confirmed. The helicopter was headed to Tochigi Prefecture after leaving Yamanashi Prefecture shortly after 14: 00, where it transported some cargo, Toho Air Service said.
The Tokyo-based airline said the last radio contact from the plane was made around 14: 03 to confirm its departure from the city of Hayakawa. The cause of the accident is unknown, the company said.
Kitagawa was a very capable experienced pilot who belonged to his Yao office in Osaka Prefecture, while three mechanics belonged in the Tokyo head office, according to Toho Air Service.
The AS332L helicopter manufactured by Airbus Helicopters Inc., inpart Airbus group, according to the Ministry of land, infrastructure, transport and tourism.
The Ministry’s safety Commission will send investigators to the scene to investigate the cause of the accident.
The police reported that they had received emergency calls from witnesses. The helicopter crashed about 700 meters West of the village office, according to local authorities.
Firefighters said another eyewitness told them the helicopter was flying from West to East but made a u-turn. According to the witness, after he lost altitude, an object fell from the rear of the plane, which the witness said fell from the back of the plane.
The accident caused a power outage in the village as power lines were damaged, affecting about 600 households, according to Tokyo Electric Power Company Holdings Inc.
Japan times LTD. All rights reserved.
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