Japan Press Weekly

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2023 December 6 - 12 [US FORCES]

Accident-prone Osprey aircraft should be grounded

The Naha City Assembly (Okinawa Pref.) on December 4 unanimously adopted a resolution of protest against the November 29 U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey crash in Japan, demanding that Ospreys be grounded.

The resolution also demands that the U.S. government close and return the Futenma base (Ginowan City, Okinawa) where USMC MV-22 Osprey aircraft are stationed.

The resolution criticizes the U.S. military for continuing to operate flights of Futenma-based Osprey from the very first day of the crash without investigating into the cause of the crash. It states, “This is seriously making local residents worry about their safety and is absolutely intolerable.”

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The Japanese Communist Party Dietmembers group on December 1 urged the Ministry of Defense to demand that the U.S. government immediately suspend Osprey flights in Japan.

A Defense official said in response that the government already requested the U.S. side to suspend Osprey flights until their safety is confirmed.

JCP Dietmembers, however, said that the Pentagon deputy spokesperson recently revealed that the U.S. government has not received any official request from the Japanese government. They asked if the government clearly requested this in writing. The official answered, “No.”

The JCP lawmakers pointed out that Defense Minister Kihara Minoru expressed “concern” over the continuation of Osprey flights. They once again pressed the government to specifically demand that all Ospreys in Japan be grounded.

Past related article:
> US Osprey crashes into waters off Kagoshima, first fatal accident in Japan [November 30 & December 1, 2023]