Crew failure to keep lookout behind midair SDF chopper collision: ministry

Japan's Defense Ministry said Tuesday crew failing to keep a lookout was among the causes for two Maritime Self-Defense Force helicopters colliding in April over the Pacific in an incident that claimed the lives of all eight personnel aboard.The two SH-60K choppers may have mistaken the distance between them and taken no maneuvers to avoid contact until they collided during a night drill to detect submarines, according to the investigation results released by the ministry.Each of the helicopters was under the control of a ship-based officer giving instructions, and poor communication betwee…READ FULL ARTICLE