TOKYO: Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force said Friday that it has confirmed the death of Lt. Gen. Yuichi Sakamoto, 55, head of the GSDF 8th Division, in a helicopter crash off an Okinawa Prefecture island.

Sakamoto led the division covering the strategically important Nansei southwestern island chain including Okinawa. He is the first sitting GSDF lieutenant general who has died in an accident during an SDF operation.

The GSDF UH-60JA helicopter carrying Sakamoto and nine others on board disappeared from radar near Okinawa’s Miyako Island during an aerial inspection of local terrain April 6.

Six bodies were found through searches in and near what appears to be the crashed chopper, which was discovered on the seabed at a depth of 106 meters.

Five of them have been recovered so far. Sakamoto is the third whose identity has been established.

The SDF is trying to identify the other two bodies while continuing to search for the remaining missing people.

Sakamoto had held key posts related to defense policy and SDF unit operations. He assumed the leadership of the 5,000-strong 8th Division, headquartered in the city of Kumamoto, only one week before the accident.

His successor, Lt. Gen. Shinichi Aoki, took office Friday.

The GSDF said that it has concluded a 1-billion-yen contract with a company to salvage the helicopter. The salvage work is seen starting as early as this month.

JIJI Press