Army chopper crashes into house in Japan

A Japanese military helicopter has crashed in south-western Japan, ripping the top floor off a house and setting it afire.

The combat helicopter belonging to the Ground Self-Defense Force's Metabaru training camp crashed in Kanzaki city on Monday evening, Fire and defence officials said.

There were no immediate reports of casualties and the Fire and defence members were still checking if there was any victim trapped inside, says an AP reports.

Kyodo News agency reported that two people were aboard the helicopter. Public broadcaster NHK said one person was suffering from heart and pulmonary arrest.

NHK showed orange flames and black smoke rising from the charred house, which had its upper floor torn off. Residents reported a big boom and ripping noises from the sky before the crash.