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Helicopter Crash Near Mount Aso: Search and Rescue Efforts Underway
KUMAMOTO, Japan - January 21, 2026 – A sightseeing helicopter carrying three individuals went missing Tuesday while on a flight over Mount Aso in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. Authorities are currently conducting search and rescue operations.
Incident Details
According to reports, the Kumamoto Prefectural police received a notification from Takumi Enterprise, the helicopter operator, around 11:50 a.m. local time, indicating the aircraft had not returned from its scheduled flight. The helicopter, a sightseeing model, departed from Aso cuddly Dominion shortly before 11:00 a.m.for a 10-minute scenic tour of the Mount Aso crater. This was the helicopter’s third flight of the day.
Fire authorities discovered what is believed to be a heavily damaged helicopter fuselage within the Mount Aso crater at approximately 4:00 p.m. local time. The cause of the incident remains under inquiry.
Passengers and Crew
The three individuals on board were identified as the pilot, a 60-year-old man with extensive flight experience and a background as a flight instructor, and two passengers believed to be tourists from Taiwan – a man in his 40s and a woman in her 30s.Their identities have not been officially released pending notification of family.
