October 25, 2008

On October 24, a small airplane made an emergency landing in a sugarcane field in Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture, and burst into flames. Four crew members onboard, believed to be U.S. military personnel, were injured and three were taken to a hospital.

The plane, which belonged to the Kadena Aero Club, was on its way to the U.S. Kadena Air Base in Okinawa from Amami Air Port in Kagoshima Prefecture.

The U.S. military police arrived at the accident site that was near a public elementary school and houses.

Japanese Communist Party member of the House of Representatives Akamine Seiken and Nago City Assembly member Gushiken Toru rushed to the scene.

Gushiken said, “This accident could have resulted in a major disaster. It occurred because there are U.S. military bases in Okinawa and must be thoroughly investigated. Together with other JCP members, I am asking for permission to enter the accident site.”

The Kadena Aero Club is one of the recreational facilities of the U.S. forces established in accordance with Article 15 of the Japan-U.S. Status of U.S. Forces Agreement.

On December 9, 1999, a small airplane of the club made an emergency landing in the Kadena Ammunition Storage Area in Okinawa City.