Sep 26 (NHK) - A load of rocks intended for disaster recovery work fell from a helicopter over a mountainous region of western Japan on Saturday. No one was injured, including the 2 crew members.
Transport ministry officials say the incident occurred in Kitagawa Village, Kochi Prefecture, at about 3 PM.
The stones were 5 to 15 centimeters in size and weighed a total of 2.7 tons.
The officials say the rocks fell through the bottom of a container while the craft was flying a height of about 70 meters over a mountainside.
The operator, Nakanihon Air Service, says the French-made helicopter is about 19 meters long and can carry up to 3.2 tons of cargo.