October 13, 2024

The Japanese Communist Party in Kanagawa Prefecture on October 11 demanded that Defense Minister Nakatani Gen press the U.S. military to investigate the cause of an emergency landing that a U.S. military helicopter made the previous day on a beach in Chigasaki City, Kanagawa, and to take thorough safety measures.

The JCP Kanagawa Prefectural Committee, JCP Kanagawa Prefectural Assemblypersons, JCP assemblypersons in Chigasaki, Ayase, Ebina, Zama, and Yamato cities in their joint names also demanded that the U.S. Atsugi base (Kanagawa Prefecture) be swiftly returned to Japan, saying that the base is extremely dangerous as it is located in a densely populated area.

An official of the Defense Ministry South Kanto Defense Bureau explained that the aircraft in question belongs to the U.S. military “Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 51” and that it made a “precautionary” landing.

Hatano Kimie, a prospective JCP candidate for a proportional representation seat in the South Kanto bloc, who rushed to the scene on the day of the incident, said, “As many as 100 local residents gathered at the site and were very anxious.” She called for a ban on flights of U.S. military aircraft until the cause of the incident is determined.

Asaka Yuka, vice chair of the JCP Kanagawa Prefectural Committee, said, “The large-scale Japan-U.S. joint military exercises (Keen Sword 25) starting on October 23 should be cancelled as there have been a series of emergency landings of U.S. military aircraft such as this one and the previous one in August in Ebina City.”

Past related article:
> US chopper makes emergency landing in rice paddy in Kanagawa Prefecture [August 4, 2024]