Helicopter crash feared in Japan

AOMORI, Japan, July 6 (UPI) -- A helicopter carrying four people disappeared Sunday while traveling off the coast of Japan's Aomori prefecture and is feared down, police say.

Police said an individual in the nearby town of Oma reported hearing a loud noise shortly after the aircraft disappeared from the skies, Kyodo News said.

Included among the passengers on the helicopter were an announcer and a cameraman from the Asahi Broadcasting Aomori, the vehicle's owner said.

The Japanese broadcasting group told Kyodo News members of its staff that departed that day in a helicopter had yet to return as scheduled.