April 12, 2022

Four U.S. Marine Corps CH-53 helicopters stationed at the USMC Futenma Air Station (Ginowan City, Okinawa Pref.) on April 10 made emergency landings at the civilian airport of Miyako in Okinawa's Miyakojima City.

The U.S. military said that the four aircraft, due to stronger-than-expected winds, made a stop at Miyako Airport on the way to the Futenma base from the Philippines to refuel. The helicopters returned to their base after refueling.

Japanese Communist Party Miyako City Assemblyperson Uesato Tatsuru said that a witness said that she/he thought the aircraft were going to crash and felt scared.

On March 29, two Osprey aircraft based at the U.S. Futenma base made unscheduled emergency landings at Shin Ishigaki Airport in Ishigaki City in Okinawa.

Past related article:
> 2 USMC Ospreys make emergency landings at civil airport on Okinawa’s Ishigaki island [March 30, 2022]