TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan Premier Cho Jung-tai (卓榮泰) expressed gratitude to the Japanese government on Thursday (Jan. 22), thanking them for their swift and comprehensive rescue operations regarding the helicopter crash at Mount Aso (阿蘇山) that left three individuals missing, including two Taiwanese tourists and a pilot. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has arranged for the Taiwanese victims' families to travel to Japan.
The helicopter crash occurred on Tuesday (Jan. 20) at Mount Aso in Kumamoto Prefecture (熊本縣), not long after leaving Aso Cuddly Dominion. Kumamoto Prefecture Police discovered the severely damaged aircraft near the Nakadake First Crater shortly after the crash. Aso City Mayor, Mayor Kazuko Matsushima (松嶋和子), announced on Thursday that the crater's viewing area would remain closed until rescue operations conclude, emphasizing the need to prioritize rescue efforts.
The Japan Transport Safety Board (JTSB) has deployed two investigators, led by Keisuke Tanoue (田上啓介), to investigate the cause of the crash. Tanoue stated that they would focus on weather conditions, operational systems, and the pilot's health management. The Robinson (羅賓遜) helicopter lacked a flight data recorder, commonly known as a "black box," which Tanoue noted eliminates the need for device recovery.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism (國土交通省) classified the incident as an aviation accident due to the aircraft's severe damage. Local police dispatched an advance team to the crater on Wednesday (Jan. 21), and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport, and Tourism sent additional investigators on Thursday. Search efforts resumed that morning, although challenging terrain and volcanic gases have hampered progress.