The transport ministry said Monday a helicopter operated by a private company made an emergency landing in a schoolyard in Aioi, Hyogo Prefecture, western Japan, without any injuries occurring.
The incident came nearly a month after a helicopter tourism flight by the company, Takumi Enterprise, ended with an emergency landing in Kumamoto Prefecture, leaving the pilot and two passengers injured.
According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, a Robinson R44 helicopter operated by the Okayama-based company landed in the schoolyard around 4 p.m. Monday after declaring an emergency due to an engine problem.
The ministry said it designated the unscheduled maneuvering as a serious incident under the Civil Aeronautics Act.
With two people aboard, the chopper was headed for an airport in Okayama, western Japan, after taking off from an airport in Toyoyama, central Japan.
In the earlier incident, which took place on May 13, a Takumi Enterprise-operated helicopter landed in a vacant lot in a mountainous area in Aso, southwestern Japan, after taking off from the animal theme park Aso Cuddly Dominion and flying over volcanic craters nearby.
The company apologized over the accident that caused injuries to three people and pledged to ensure nothing similar would happen again in a statement issued on May 22.
