A helicopter with three aboard vanished near Japan’s Mount Aso on Jan. 20, 2026, during a sightseeing flight.

A sightseeing helicopter carrying three people vanished near Mount Aso's Nakadake crater in Japan on January 20, 2026, after losing contact while flying from Aso City's zoo. Authorities launched a ground and aerial search in the rugged, volcanic terrain and unpredictable weather. The plane, which had made two previous flights without incident, was last seen around 11 a.m. Local time. No information about the crew, aircraft, or the cause of the disappearance has been confirmed. Rescue efforts are ongoing.