Japan Press Weekly

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2021 August 18 - 24 [US FORCES]

US MV-22 Osprey drops panel while in flight in Okinawa

Okinawa Vice-Governor Janaha Kiichiro on August 19 called the ambassador in charge of Okinawan Affairs and the director general of the Okinawa Defense Bureau to the Okinawa prefectural government office and protested against yet another part-drop accident involving U.S. military aircraft a week ago.

Janaha handed to the two officials a written demand on Okinawa Governor Tamaki Denny's behalf, demanding that the Japanese government press the U.S. military to: search into the cause of the accident and suspend U.S. military aircraft flights until the cause is identified; provide accurate information about the accident; and conduct tighter safety management of U.S. military aircraft.

The Okinawa government also demanded the cancellation of Osprey flights, the withdrawal of Osprey deployment, the halt of the operation of the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station (Ginowan City), and the closure and the return of the Futenma base.

Reportedly, an MV-22 Osprey assigned to the U.S. Futenma base accidentally dropped a one-meter-long panel and another part during flight on the evening of August 12. The aircraft was on route to the Futenma base from the Central Training Area which stretches over USMC Camp Schwab and Camp Hansen in Okinawa. After the aircraft returned to the base, the loss of the parts was discovered. Without giving details, including where the parts fell onto as well as the cause of the accident, the USMC continues with its Osprey flight training.

The Japanese Communist Party Okinawa Prefectural Committee and the JCP Okinawa Prefectural Assemblypersons' Group on August 17 lodged a strong protest against the drop accident and made a similar demand to the Okinawa Defense Bureau.