4 die in Japan helicopter crash

Four crew members were confirmed dead on Wednesday after a helicopter crashed in a village north-west of Tokyo, local media reported.

The helicopter, operated by Tokyo-based Toho Air Service, was on its way to a heliport in Tochigi prefecture after taking off from the town of Hayakawa near Mt Fuji, Kyodo News agency said.

It crashed in the village of Ueno, 100 kilometres north-west of the capital.

Police were investigating what caused the accident.