Kumamoto: A helicopter carrying two Taiwanese tourists and a Japanese pilot crashed in the Mount Aso area of Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. Taiwan's representative office in Fukuoka was promptly notified of the incident, which involved a sightseeing tour gone awry.

According to Focus Taiwan, Kumamoto Governor Takashi Kimura informed the Fukuoka Branch of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office immediately after the accident on Tuesday morning. The office, led by Director-General Bruce Chen, has been kept informed about ongoing search and rescue efforts since the crash.

Reports from Japanese media indicate that Kumamoto police discovered helicopter wreckage at approximately 4:10 p.m. local time on the northeastern slope of Mount Aso's Nakadake No. 1 crater. The wreckage was later confirmed to be that of the missing sightseeing helicopter by matching the aircraft's tail number.

Despite the mobilization of police, fire services, and the Self-Defense Forces, rescue teams have faced challenges accessing the crash site due to the rugged terrain and dense fog at the summit. These factors have delayed efforts to reach the wreckage and assess the situation further.

The helicopter, which took off around 10:50 a.m. local time from the Aso Cuddly Dominion in Aso City, was on a planned 10-minute flight. It reportedly lost contact shortly after 11 a.m., as per local authorities. The operating agent of the helicopter confirmed that three individuals were on board: a Japanese pilot in his 60s, and two Taiwanese tourists, a 41-year-old male and a 36-year-old female.