US Air Force Osprey crashes off coast of Japan with six crew members aboard

The plane crashed off the coast of the island of Yakushima, in the Kagoshima prefecture in southern Japan.

Officials were alert to the crash at approximately 2.47pm local time (5.47am GMT).

The 10th Regional Coast Guard then sent patrol boats and aircraft to the area.

According to the Yakushima Fisheries Association, several boats that were fishing in the surrounding waters searched the area and discovered three individuals.

A helicopter spotted later what appeared to be debris from the plane at around 4.00pm (7.00am GMT).

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Officials from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism told Japanese news outlet NHK, that the Osprey was headed for Kadena Air Base.

The plane's left engine reportedly caught fire whilst landing on the coast.

Sources from the Ministry of Defense sources claimed the Osprey was forced to change its route and was instead heading to Yakushima Airport to try to land.

A local shop-owner situated near the airport claimed to have spotted the plane in the moments before it crashed.

He said: "I was flying on a route that would have approached the runway from the east side of Yakushima Airport, but it turned to the left and went down.

"I saw black smoke rising up along with the ground rumbling, so I immediately called 911. I did."

According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, the region was mostly sunny, with a weak wind speed of 1.9 meters just before the plane crashed.

At the time, no weather warnings had been issued.