Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2023 March 15 - 21 [US FORCES]

USMC chopper accidentally drops a part containing gunpowder in Okinawa

The Defense Ministry’s Okinawa Defense Bureau on March 16 reported that a U.S. Marine Corps AH-1 attack helicopter accidentally dropped a part in Okinawa on the previous day.

According to the bureau, the aircraft, which is stationed at the USMC Futenma Air Station, dropped an escape equipment-related part containing about 4.5g of trinitrotoluene. Receiving a report from the U.S. military on the drop accident, the bureau provided the information to municipalities and fishing cooperatives in Okinawa.

In protest against the accident, Okinawa Governor Tamaki Denny on March 17 held a press conference in the prefectural government office building and said, "The gunpowder was not a large amount, but the dropping of an aircraft part with explosives should have never happened in the first place."

The governor pointed out that the prefecture was notified of the incident seven hours after the loss of the part was discovered. He said, "An immediate report on the accident to the prefectural authorities was necessary," demanding that the USMC and the Okinawa Defense Bureau investigate the cause of the accident in order to prevent a recurrence, take thorough safety measures, and swiftly notify the prefectural government as soon as an incident or accident occurs.