U.S. helicopter test flights at Henoko cancelled

Japan Press Weekly

Japan Press Service Co., Ltd. is the only news agency providing information of progressive, democratic movements in Japan

U.S. helicopter test flights at Henoko cancelled

Test flights by two U.S. helicopters over a new U.S. base construction site at Henoko in Nago City scheduled by the Okinawa Defense Bureau and the U.S. forces for September 9 was cancelled on the day. The helicopters were scheduled to fly over a V-shaped runway that is to be constructed.

The Okinawa Defense Bureau announced that the cancellation was due to inadequate maintenance of the aircraft.

A Japanese Communist Party Nago City assembly member who was there to monitor the flights said, "The cancellation, allegedly due to insufficient maintenance, shows how dangerous military flights can be. It is possible that the judgment of postponing the test is based on the present political situation."

The U.S. forces announced that the test flights will be made on September 10.

- Akahata, September 10, 2009