Japan Press Weekly

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2014 June 4 - 10 [US FORCES]

US Navy copter drops a flashlight in flight

The Okinawa Defense Bureau on June 4 announced that a U.S. Navy MH-60 helicopter probably dropped a flashlight during its flight training exercise the previous day.

Since the beginning of this year, there have already been five parts-drop accidents involving U.S. military aircraft in Okinawa alone.

Reportedly, a crewmember on board the MH-60 dropped his accouterment without realizing this while in-flight from the Kadena base to Camp Schwab. No damage was reported.

China Isamu, a local neighborhood association head, was angry at the spate of drop accidents. He said, “Because of no reports of damage, the U.S. forces probably do not understand what we are angry about. I think that’s why they are neglecting their duty of ensuring safety management.”

Past related articles:
> Discarded US marine’s parachute falls from the sky in Okinawa [March 28, 2014]
> US fighter jet drops cockpit heatshield [March 5, 2014]