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1 killed, 1 without vital signs in chopper crash

Feb 06 (NHK) - Japan's defense ministry says one of its Ground Self-Defense Force helicopters has crashed on a house in Saga Prefecture, western Japan. The house went up in flames.

Local police say one person, apparently one of two crewmembers, was killed in the accident and another was found without vital signs.

The crash site in Kanzaki City is around 4 kilometers south of the GSDF Metabaru Air Field, also in Saga Prefecture. The aircraft is an AH-64 attack helicopter belonging to the base.

Police say 4 people live in the house where the helicopter crashed. Of those, they say a 5th-grade girl suffered minor injuries to her knee.

The defense ministry says the helicopter was on a test flight after undergoing maintenance.

It says it received a report that the aircraft fell nose-first while flying from east to west.

The ministry says it has decided to suspend flights of 12 other AH-64 helicopters in the Ground Self-Defense Force to carry out urgent checks.

It will also conduct checks on all other helicopters belonging to the country's Self-Defense Forces.

Source: ANNnewsCH

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