Japan’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism has launched an on-site investigation into Saga-based SGC Saga Aviation following a fatal medical helicopter accident near Nagasaki on April 6. The crash, which occurred during a patient transport flight from Tsushima Airport to Fukuoka, resulted in the deaths of three people, including the patient and a physician. Three others, including the pilot and a mechanic, were injured.
The inspection, which began April 16 and continued on the 17th, is being conducted under the Civil Aeronautics Act to examine the operator’s safety management practices, emergency response training, and aircraft maintenance. The pilot reportedly told company officials that the aircraft lost altitude after an unusual noise from the rear and was unable to control its rudder, prompting a forced water landing. SGC Saga Aviation was also involved in a July 2023 crash in Yanagawa, Fukuoka, which killed two people. That incident also triggered a government investigation. Source: NHK
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