A U.S. military Osprey aircraft carrying six people crashed off the coast of southern Japan on Wednesday, and the remains of one of the deceased crew members has been recovered, Japan's coast guard said. 

The cause of the crash as well as information about the five other people on the aircraft were not immediately available, but witnesses said the aircraft's left engine appeared to be on fire as it went toward the airport for an emergency landing, Reuters reported. 

Japan's coast guard said it recovered apparent wreckage from the aircraft as well as one person who was later confirmed to be dead. 

Fishing boats in the area found three people in the surrounding area but their conditions are unknown, a spokesperson for a local fisheries cooperative said.

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