TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s coast guard says it's trying to find a military helicopter carrying 10 crew members that went lacking off a southern Japanese island.

The coast guard mentioned it acquired data {that a} Ground Self-Defense Force UH-60JA Black Hawk helicopter disappeared from radar on a mission Thursday night in an space north of Miyako island.

It mentioned 4 patrol ships are taking part within the search however haven't discovered any traces of the lacking plane.

The disappearance close to the Japanese island got here because the nation is aggressively beefing up its protection within the area in response to China’s more and more assertive army exercise within the regional seas, the place pressure can also be rising round Taiwan.

Kyodo News mentioned Japanese coast guard ships discovered traces of oil and particles which may be associated to the lacking helicopter, however officers declined to substantiate the report.

The Ground Self-Defense Force, or Japanese military, mentioned the helicopter belongs to a base in Kumamoto prefecture on Japan’s southern primary island of Kyushu and was visiting Miyako island on a surveillance mission.

NHK public tv mentioned the helicopter disappeared from radar about an hour after it departed from a base on Miyako island and about half an hour earlier than its scheduled return.

Prime Minister Fumio Kishida mentioned the Defense Ministry is investigating and “We will do our utmost to save their lives.”

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