Japan Press Weekly

Tweet

2013 April 17 - 23 [US FORCES]

US Marine helicopter based in Okinawa crashes in South Korea

A U.S. military helicopter that caused an accident in South Korea has been found to be the same type as the one that crashed in Okinawa in 2004, fueling Okinawans’ fear of another crash involving the U.S. forces’ aircraft on their land.

On April 16, the U.S. Marines’ CH-53 helicopter crashed while attempting to land and burst into flames in an area close to the military demarcation line in northern South Korea. The aircraft was stationed in Okinawa and was taking part in the U.S.-South Korea joint military training exercises.

In 2004, a CH-53 based at the U.S. Futenma base crashed on Okinawa International University campus, located next to the base.

The Okinawa Prefectural Government on April 17 requested the Okinawa Defense Bureau and the U.S. Marine Corps to investigate the cause of the accident and implement safety measures.