 U.S. military helicopter dropped component before crash U.S. forces in Okinawa have found out that a U.S. military helicopter dropped a component on a runway in the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station before it crashed at Okinawa International University in Ginowan City on August 13. According to their report on the cause of the accident which was published on October 8, when an air traffic controller informed the helicopter crew about the component that fell, he answered that he will check his machine when he returns to the base. The report said that although the component that fell from the helicopter was not the cause of the crash, it indicated poor maintenance of the helicopter. Akahata on October 10 stressed the crew's failure to respond to the loss of the component reveals the U.S. forces' disregard for the safety of local residents. (end) |