Nago Mayor demands withdrawal of US Marine MV-22 Osprey from Okinawa

Nago Mayor demands withdrawal of US Marine MV-22 Osprey from Okinawa

In the mayoral room on December 16, Nago Mayor Susumu Inamine showed a picture of an aerial tanker flying over the city office while Vice-Minister of Defense Kenji Wakamiya explained about the Osprey crash off the coast of Abu in Nago.


December 16, 2016 Ryukyu Shimpo

On December 16, Vice-Minister of Defense Kenji Wakamiya visited the Nago city office to apologize to Mayor Susumu Inamine after an MV-22 Osprey vertical takeoff and landing aircraft belonging to the Futenma base in Ginowan crashed into shallow water off the coast of Abu in Nago. Wakaminiya said, “The accident really worried local citizens. I have deeply apologized for that. I have requested the U.S.military take all the usual care to avoid this kind of accident.”

Inamine strongly condemned the crash saying it could have threatened the safety of local citizens.
“I will demand that the governments of Japan and United States should immediately withdraw the osprey, close Futenma Air Base, and cancel all Osprey flights,” he said.

Wakamiya said, “I am requesting that the commander of U.S. Forces in Japan identify the cause of the accident, release it as soon as possible, and stop osprey flights until the issue cleared.”

On October 26, 2016, the aircraft was sighted flying over the city office. An object that appeared to be a hose used for aerial refueling could be seen. Pointing this out, Inamine asked, “Have the military been carrying out flight training not only on the sea but also on the land?”

(English translation by T&CT)　

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