Summary
A tourist helicopter has gone missing near Mount Aso, a volcano in Japan. The helicopter was carrying three people and disappeared during a short sightseeing tour.
Key Facts
- The helicopter was carrying three people: a pilot and two passengers from Taiwan.
- The helicopter took off for a 10-minute tour from Aso City and never returned.
- Police spotted what looks like an aircraft inside the crater of Mount Aso but have not confirmed if it is the missing helicopter.
- The pilot is 64 years old and has 40 years of flying experience.
- The helicopter, a Robinson R44, had completed two successful tours earlier that day.
- Cloudy weather was present near Mount Aso when the helicopter vanished.
- Takumi Enterprise, the company operating the helicopter, stopped all its flights after the incident.
- Helicopter tours over Mount Aso are popular tourist attractions in the region.
