A sightseeing helicopter carrying two Taiwanese tourists and a Japanese pilot disappeared near Mount Aso on Jan. 20 after departing the Aso Cuddly Dominion zoo. Firefighters received an emergency alert around 11:04 a.m., and wreckage was later located near the volcano’s crater. Authorities believe the aircraft crashed and say the wreckage was heavily damaged; rescue operations were suspended due to hazardous volcanic gases and weather. A decision on resuming the search was expected on Jan. 21.
Sightseeing Helicopter Goes Missing Near Mount Aso Summit; Wreckage Found Near Crater
KAZUHIRO NOGI/AFP via GettyMount Aso in Japan
A sightseeing helicopter carrying two tourists and a pilot disappeared near the summit of Mount Aso on the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 20. Local authorities later located aircraft wreckage close to a volcanic crater, and investigators believe the chopper crashed during the flight.
What Happened
The helicopter departed from the Aso Cuddly Dominion zoo at about 10:52 a.m. local time. Approximately 10 minutes into the flight it vanished from radar, according to local outlets including Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun, Kyodo News Agency and The Taipei Times.
Passengers and Pilot
Local reports identified the occupants as two Taiwanese tourists — a 41-year-old man and a 36-year-old woman — and a 64-year-old Japanese pilot. The operator, Takumi Enterprise, said the aircraft was on its third sightseeing flight of the day and that the first two trips had presented no problems. The company also reported the pilot had roughly 40 years of flying experience.
Emergency Alert and Search
Firefighters received an emergency notification around 11:04 a.m., which may have been sent from a passenger's smartphone, The Japan Times reported. The aircraft's GPS was last recorded near Mount Aso's crater. Search teams later discovered wreckage near the crater; prefectural police now believe the helicopter crashed.
The Aso Police Station told local media the aircraft was completely destroyed, including the passenger compartment, and that the wreckage's serial number matched that of the missing helicopter.
Rescue Efforts and Hazards
Rescue operations were suspended because weather conditions and hazardous volcanic gases made the site inaccessible. The Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Fukuoka said officials planned to decide whether to resume operations on Wednesday, Jan. 21. Authorities emphasized safety concerns due to toxic gases around the crater.
Context
Mount Aso is one of Japan's most active volcanoes; the Smithsonian Institution notes its most recent significant activity occurred in October 2021. As of the latest reports, no confirmed update on the condition of the two tourists or the pilot has been released. Local officials and news organizations are continuing to monitor the situation.
Sources: Kumamoto Nichinichi Shimbun, Kyodo News Agency, The Japan Times, The Taipei Times, People, Smithsonian Institution.
Help us improve.
