Helicopter Fell Down Again

Having received consistent protest against flying dangerous aircraft from the residents, United States Force again dropped a helicopter on the land of Okinawa. Ministry of Defense announced that a large helicopter, CH53, of US Force touched down on a private grass field in Takae District of Higashi Village, Okinawa, Wednesday evening. While no one injured in the incident, the helicopter went on in flames and exploded. The people in Okinawa renewed their anger against US Force and the government of Japan.

Minister of Defense, Itsunori Onodera, explained that CH53 belonging to US Marine Corps went on in flames when it touched down. US Marine released information that there occurred a fire in the helicopter and it made emergency touch down. The exploded helicopter burned the grass of private pasture. The owner was frustrated with the accident being unable to harvest the grasses.

The place of the accident is close to Northern Training Area of US Force in Okinawa. US government agreed on returning over one half of the training area to Japan with a condition of building six helipads in the rest of the area. US Force started using two of new helipad in February 2015 and other two in this July. Helicopters or controversial tilt-rotor aircraft, MV22 Osprey, are frequently flying over the area.

There is Takae Elementary School two kilometers away from the point of the accident. Governor of Okinawa, Takeshi Onaga, expressed his resentment against frequent accident by US Force in Okinawa. An Osprey belonging to Futenma Marine Airbase exploded when it tried to make emergency touch down on the water offshore Nago City last December. “This is caused by existence of military base. We strongly demand stopping the flying of the same type of aircraft until thorough review and disclosure of information will be done,” said Onaga.

CH53 caused broad protest in Okinawa, when it fell down on Okinawa International College, located next to Futenma Airbase in 2004. Residents in Takae were surprised by frequent accidents of US aircraft. “I was shocked when I realized the accident of helicopter, because there was strong wind blowing,” said one resident. Another resident told it to have been inevitable, because US Force was making dangerous training. They are worried that it may strike them someday.

Ministry of Defense requested US Force detailed review of the accident and preventing measures. However, Japan-US Status of Force Agreement does not give Japan a right for first-hand investigation. While some opposite parties raises review of SOFA in their campaign policy, equality in status cannot be achieved soon.