US military halts flights after crash in Japan

TOKYO - The US military on Tuesday decided to suspend flights by its HH-60 choppers at a request by Japan as one of such helicopter crashed down in Japan's Okinawa prefecture Monday, reported local media.

The flying activities of the squadron have been suspended, said the US Kadena air base, where the crashed chopper based, adding it is not yet known when the choppers will resume flying, said Japan's Kyodo News.

An HH-60 rescue chopper crashed Monday in a mountain area inside the US Hansen Camp in Japan's Okinawa prefecture.

Three of its four crew members were confirmed safe after the accident, while the other one is missing. The Kadena base said on Tuesday that human remains were discovered at the crash site and that they have yet to identify the body, according to Kyodo.

Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima separately met with Japan's defense, foreign ministers and the chief cabinet secretary on Tuesday, calling for a thorough investigation into the accident, Kyodo said.