TOKYO, March 15 (Xinhua) -- An earlier report claiming a helicopter of Japan's Self-Defense Force (SDF) had crashed in the mountains of the southwestern prefecture of Oita turned out to be a misidentification, local media reported citing prefectural authorities.
Upon receiving the report earlier in the day, the prefectural authorities conducted a thorough search of the related area, but found no evidence of an accident, according to multiple local media outlets, including the regional broadcaster Television Oita.
The Joint Staff Office also said it has received no report of an accident after confirming the status of all SDF aircraft.
An eyewitness said a grayish aircraft circled to the right before disappearing in Hita, according to the Oita prefecture, which added that a U.S. Navy C-130 transport plane of that color was flying nearby at the time, national news agency Kyodo reported.
Since there was no reported accident involving C-130 aircraft, it has been determined the eyewitness was mistaken, reported Kyodo citing the local government. ■