Japan Press Weekly

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2013 August 14 - 20 [US FORCES]

US resumes HH-60 flights just 11 days after crash

The U.S. military on August 16 resumed flight training exercises of its HH-60 helicopters in Okinawa, just eleven days after a fatal crash caused by an HH-60 aircraft.

The flight operations took place without determining the cause of the August 5 crash by one of the U.S. Kadena-based HH-60 helicopters at U.S. Camp Hansen in Ginoza Village in Okinawa.

A senior official of the Okinawa prefectural government said, “It is regrettable that the U.S. forces restarted the flight drills while the cause of the accident has yet to be determined,” and indicated that Okinawan authorities will lodge a protest over the resumption of flight training with the Japanese and U.S. governments.

The Ginoza Village mayor said, “The U.S. military forced through the continuation of its flight operations when we are furious about the deployment of additional Ospreys, as if we are still under U.S. occupation, which is absolutely unforgivable.”

The Kadena Town mayor said, “The U.S. forces say they confirmed the safety of the aircraft. Then, why did the crash occur? It is only natural for us to feel that there must be other causes than just some flaws. It is absolutely unacceptable and I strongly protest the HH-60 operations.”

Japanese Communist Party member of the Okinawa Prefectural Assembly Kayo Sogi said, “The HH-60s are very old now. They have operated for more than 30 years since their deployment. It is unthinkable to put priority on military training exercises based on an unscientific conclusion endangering the safety of local people.”