Photo taken on Jan. 20, 2026, shows wreckage believed to be the sightseeing helicopter that went missing in the crater area of Mt. Nakadake, one of the peaks of Mt. Aso in Kumamoto Prefecture. The text in the image was provided as is, indicating the location where the object was spotted. (Photo courtesy of Kumamoto Prefectural Police)(Photo not for sale)(Kyodo)

WORLD

3 Bodies Found At Helicopter Crash Site In Southwest Japan Volcanic Crater

18/02/2026 06:31 PM

TOKYO, Feb 18 (Bernama-Kyodo) -- Bodies believed to be those of three people aboard a sightseeing helicopter that crashed into a volcanic crater on Mt. Aso in Kumamoto Prefecture, southwestern Japan, in January have been found, the local fire department said Wednesday.

Authorities will attempt to recover the bodies, it said, Kyodo News reported.

The helicopter took off from Cuddly Dominion, a zoo and theme park in Aso city that offers chopper rides, on the morning of Jan 20, carrying two passengers -- a man and a woman from Taiwan -- and a 64-year-old Japanese pilot.

Contact was later lost, and the wreckage was found on a slope inside the crater of Mt. Nakadake, one of the five peaks of Mt. Aso.

-- BERNAMA-KYODO

KEYWORDS

RELATED NEWS