Two Futenma-based Osprey make successive emergency landings in Amami and Kadena

Two Futenma-based Osprey make successive emergency landings in Amami and Kadena

An MV-22 Osprey making an emergency landing at Kadena Air Base on August 14 around 6:30 p.m. (Photograph courtesy of a Ryukyu Shimpo reader)


August 15, 2018 Ryukyu Shimpo

 

On August 14, there were successive emergency landings of MV-22 Osprey vertical takeoff and landing aircraft from MCAS Futenma Air Station at Amami Airport in Kagoshima Prefecture and at Kadena Air Base.

The causes of these emergency landings are unknown, and there is no information on injured persons.

According to eyewitnesses, emergency vehicles rushed up to the Osprey that landed at Kadena, and it was clear there was some sort of trouble that led to the landing.

However, according to information released by the Okinawa Defense Bureau and other organs, the Osprey that landed at Amami Airport did so due to observance of protocol when a warning light illuminated in the cockpit.

At Kadena Air Base, one MV-22 Osprey aircraft came in at 5:50 p.m., and at 6:30 p.m. another landed.

One of these landings was standard.

Both Osprey took off at about 7:00 p.m. from Kadena and returned to Futenma Air Station.

The ODB told the Ryukyu Shimpo, “We are still confirming all the facts.” An Okinawa Prefectural Government representative said, “We are continuing to collect information.”

An MV-22 Osprey making an emergency landing at Kadena Air Base on August 14 around 6:30 p.m. (Photograph courtesy of a Ryukyu Shimpo reader)

At 5:22 p.m. another MV-22 Osprey made an emergency landing at Amami Airport. According to the Kyushu Defense Bureau, one crewmember remained on the MV-22, and at 7:19 p.m. the aircraft departed.

About 40 minutes later, another aircraft came to retrieve the remaining crewmembers.

The exterior of the aircraft did not appear damaged.

Civilian flights at Amami Airport were delayed by 25 minutes at most.

The ODB stated that information from the U.S. military indicated that due to a warning light illuminating in the cockpit, the protocol was for the aircraft to land at Amami Airport, and that it took off as soon as its safety had been confirmed.

The ODB requested that the U.S. military provide thorough information on its safety controls.

Multiple U.S. military Osprey have made emergency landings at Amami Airport in the past couple of years.

In June this year it was an Air Force CV-22 Osprey, and there were MV-22 Osprey in June last year and April this year.

In February, an MV-22 Osprey from Futenma Air Station had a window piece fall onto school grounds on Ikeijima in Uruma City, Okinawa.

 

(English translation by T&CT and Erin Jones)

 

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