Okinawa Authorities Protest US Air Base’s Osprey Flights After Deadly Crash

Authorities of Japan’s Okinawa Prefecture, where US air and military bases are located, voiced their objections to the United States over continued flights of MV-22 Osprey aircraft, after a deadly crash of the heli-plane, local media reported Tuesday.

On August 5, a US Marine Corps Osprey went down near Australia. The US Department of Defense announced Monday that three US Marines have been declared dead following extensive search and rescue efforts after the crash.

Okinawa's Deputy Governor Moritake Tomikawa met with the head of US forces in Okinawa, Lt. Gen. Lawrence Nicholson, and expressed his discontent over the fact that the United States had not ceased Osprey flights despite repeated requests from local authorities and residents, the NHK broadcaster reported.
 

The US military official replied saying that Ospreys are used worldwide, and that Washington does not plan on decommissioning the aircraft, according to the broadcaster.

Even though the Okinawa deputy governor asked the US side to refrain from flying Ospreys at least until the end of the investigation into the Australia incident, a Marine Corps Osprey flew out of the country's Futenma air base in Okinawa on Monday, the broadcaster reported.
 (Sputnik)
 8/8/17
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