Japanese troops have found a body believed to be that of the pilot of a military helicopter that crashed nose down into a house. An 11-year-old girl was the only one of the four residents of the house who was home at the time. She managed to escape, suffering only a minor knee injury, according to Saga prefecture's disaster department.

Witnesses reported a big boom and ripping noises from the sky before the crash. Aerial photos show how fortunate the girl was to escape the house, which erupted in flames and had its upper floor torn off.

Japan helicopter crash
Aerial view of a home that erupted in flames after a Japan's Ground Self-Defence Force (JSFD) AH-64 Apache attack helicopter crashed into it, in Kanzaki, Saga prefecture Jiji Press/AFP

The Boeing AH-64 combat helicopter, belonging to the Ground Self-Defence Force's Metabaru training camp, crashed in the city of Kanzaki in Saga prefecture seven minutes into a test flight after routine maintenance, officials said. The crash site in a residential area was 6 kilometres (3.6 miles) from the base.

The Defence Ministry said the co-pilot suffered heart and lung failure and was later pronounced dead. The pilot was initially reported as missing. On Tuesday (6 February), ministry officials said a body found in the wreckage was believed to be the pilot and was being identified.

Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera said the helicopter fell nose first after losing contact with air traffic control. He said the cause of the accident is under investigation, but the helicopter had its main rotor parts replaced during the maintenance before the test flight.

AH-64D
A Japanese Ground Self-Defence Force AH-64D, pictured over Narashino in Japan, in January 2012 Los-688/Wikimedia Commons
Japan helicopter crash
Aerial view of the site of the Japanese military helicopter crash in a residential area of Kanzaki, Saga prefecture Jiji Press/AFP
Japan helicopter crash
Smoke billows from a house after a Japan's Ground Self-Defence Force's Apache attack helicopter crashed into it, in Kanzaki, Saga prefecture Kyodo/Reuters
Japan helicopter crash
Firefighters extinguish the fire after a Japan's Ground Self-Defence Force's (JSFD) AH-64 Apache attack helicopter crashed in a residential area of Kanzaki, Saga prefecture Jiji Press/AFP
Japan helicopter crash
Members of Japan's Ground Self-Defence Force look at wreckage after a helicopter crashed in Kanzaki, Saga prefecture Jiji Press/AFP
Japan helicopter crash
Members of Japan's Ground Self-Defence Force carry out a piece of wreckage a day after a helicopter crashed into a house in Kanzaki, Saga prefecture Jiji Press/AFP

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he ordered the grounding of all 12 helicopters of the same type for safety checks. During a parliamentary session, Abe apologised for the accident. "It is extremely regrettable that the Self-Defence Force, which is supposed to protect the people's lives and peaceful life, threatened the safety of the residents and caused tremendous damage," he said.

The crash follows a series of emergency landings and other incidents involving US military aircraft on Japan's southern island of Okinawa.

Footage aired Tuesday by public broadcaster NHK showed the moment of the fall, with the helicopter going out of control, spiralling and descending nose down.

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