Seven injured in military chopper crash in Okinawa

Japan's coastguard, citing the US military, confirmed the updated figures, after broadcaster NTV earlier reported that two crew members had gone missing.

 

"But further details are not available, including the total number of crew members aboard and how seriously the seven people were injured," a coastguard spokesman said.

 

National broadcaster NHK and Kyodo News agency said a total of 17 crew members were on board when the accident occurred some 30 kilometres (8.6 miles) east of the US Kadena airbase in Japan's southernmost Okinawa islands.

 

Immediate confirmation from the US military was not available.

 

Okinawa is home to more than half of the 47,000 US service personnel stationed in Japan as part of a defence alliance.

 

Japan said last week it would temporarily halt work on a controversial new US military base in southern Okinawa as talks continue with local officials opposed to the project. -AFP

 

(File Photo: Getty Images)