TOKYO, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- Four people aboard a helicopter that crashed in the village of Ueno in Japan's Gunma prefecture, northwest of Tokyo, have been confirmed dead, local rescue officials said Wednesday.
The large helicopter used for transporting goods crashed in the village of Ueno in Gunma prefecture at around 2:30 p.m. local time killing the four crew members aboard, rescue officials said.
The deaths were confirmed Wednesday afternoon by local fire department officials.
According to Japan's Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the helicopter, operated by Toho Airways, was heading to Tochigi prefecture, north of Tokyo, from Yamanashi prefecture which lies southwest of the capital when it crashed.
Four people including the pilot were aboard when the helicopter took off at 2:03 p.m. local time, transport ministry officials said.
The flight from Yamanashi to Tochigi was expected to take 1.5 hours, according to flight plans, they added.
According to local media reports, an eyewitness who spotted the helicopter before it crashed was quoted as saying that it was flying unusually low.
The cause of the crash is being investigated by rescue and transport ministry officials who have been deployed to the scene.
