Three people were killed in a midair collision between a light plane and a Self-Defense Forces helicopter over Ryugasaki, Ibaraki Prefecture, on Aug. 21 in the afternoon, police reported.
Ryugasaki city officials said the civilian plane and the GSDF helicopter, which were traveling in opposite directions, collided at around 4:40 p.m.
The light plane crashed into a park in a residential area, while the helicopter fell into nearby woods before bursting into flames, police said. No one on the ground was injured.