A missing Japanese military helicopter with 10 people on board is believed to have crashed into the sea. The search team found the floating wreckage in Okinawa Prefecture, between Japan and Taiwan. News BBC.

Officials say floating debris found during search and rescue operations may be part of the aircraft.

“We believe the helicopter crashed,” Gen. Yasunori Morishita told reporters in Tokyo.

The UH60 helicopter, known as the Black Hawk, disappeared from radar near Miyako Island on Thursday (April 6).

The four-bladed, twin-engine transport helicopter used by Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) was surveying the local area, authorities said.

The Japanese Coast Guard says the patrol vessel recovered the folded lifeboat. Which is usually used in GSDF vehicles.

Oil and what could be parts of the rotor blades were also seen floating in the sea.

A GSDF missile unit is located on Miyako Island, about 400 km east of Taiwan.