TAIPEI (TVBS News) — A helicopter carrying two Taiwanese tourists and a pilot went missing near Mount Aso (阿蘇山), an active volcano in Japan's Kumamoto Prefecture, on Tuesday (Jan. 20). The aircraft lost contact after taking off from Aso Cuddly Dominion (阿蘇卡德利動物樂園), a theme park near the volcano. Local fire departments have launched a search-and-rescue operation.
The helicopter, operated by a local agency, carried a male pilot in his 60s along with a Taiwanese man and woman, according to Japanese media reports. Mainichi Shimbun (每日新聞), a major Japanese newspaper, reported that the aircraft lost contact shortly after 11 a.m. local time. Kumamoto Kenmin Television (熊本縣民電視台), a local broadcaster, reported that the passengers' smartphones sent notifications indicating an impact, intensifying the urgency of the search.
Fire departments and mountain rescue teams are combing the area around Mount Aso (阿蘇山), but as of 1 p.m. local time, they have not located the helicopter. Authorities continue to focus their search efforts on the volcanic region surrounding the mountain. The search is ongoing as rescuers hope to find any trace of the missing aircraft and its three passengers. ◼