Japan’s Defence Minister, Kihara Minoru, says a rescued person who was on board a Self-Defence Force helicopter has been confirmed dead. The two SH-60K choppers belonging to the Maritime Self-Defence Force crashed yesterday off the Izu Islands in the Pacific Ocean. The Defence Ministry officials said that each helicopter carried four people on board. Rescue operations are continuing for the remaining seven people. Mr Kihara said that the cause of the crash was not immediately known and added that officials are prioritising the rescue operation.