1 Death Among 6 Passengers, 5 Missing... First Fatal Accident in Japan
Frequent Accidents Earn 'Widow Maker' Stigma... Okinawa Requests Flight Suspension
The accident involving a U.S. military vertical takeoff and landing transport aircraft, the Osprey, crashing into the sea near Japan has sparked growing calls to ban Osprey operations in Japan.
On the 30th, NHK reported, citing government officials, that the Japanese government is considering measures including a request to the U.S. military to temporarily suspend Osprey flights.
The crash occurred the previous day in the sea near Yakushima, southern Kyushu, Japan. Of the six people on board, one died and five are missing. The Japan Coast Guard stated, "One person presumed to be a crew member was rescued but was already deceased. No signs of people were found on the life rafts discovered at sea."
The aircraft had departed from Iwakuni Base in Yamaguchi Prefecture, western Honshu (main island), and was en route to Kadena Air Base in Okinawa Prefecture. Yakushima, where the accident occurred, is located midway along the route. According to the Kagoshima Meteorological Observatory, the weather was clear and the wind was not strong at the time.
In Okinawa Prefecture, the destination of the crashed Osprey, the governor officially requested a suspension of flights. On the previous night, Governor Tamaki Denny of Okinawa held a press conference, stating that Osprey flights in Okinawa should be halted until the cause of the accident is determined, adding, "The risks of the Osprey have already been pointed out multiple times. It is regrettable that this has become a reality in this way."
At the Metabaru garrison in Saga Prefecture, where Osprey training was scheduled for that day, the schedule was postponed for the time being.
The Osprey has frequently caused accidents, raising significant concerns among residents. The Osprey can take off and land vertically in place, making it widely used in areas with short runways. It has been heavily deployed at Okinawa’s Futenma Base and Tokyo’s Yokota Base, each time facing fierce opposition from local residents. Due to the frequent accidents, it has earned the notorious nickname "overload maker." This recent accident is expected to further heighten residents' anxiety.
Okinawa Prefecture, in particular, has consistently opposed the deployment of Ospreys citing accident concerns. Since the forced deployment to Okinawa in 2012, there was an emergency landing accident in the sea near Nago City, Okinawa Prefecture in 2016, and there have been other Osprey crashes. In 2018, an Osprey experienced a malfunction during flight and made an emergency landing at a civilian airport. That same year, a fallen Osprey engine intake component was found on the coast of Ike Island, Okinawa.
According to the Ministry of Defense, as of September 2021, there have been seven "Class A" accidents worldwide involving U.S. military CV-22 Ospreys, defined as accidents causing death or damages exceeding $2.5 million.
This accident is expected to disrupt the Japanese government's plans to strengthen defense capabilities. The Japanese government had previously proposed additional deployments of Ospreys to Okinawa, Saga Prefecture, and other locations in preparation for potential Chinese invasion of Taiwan. The Mainichi Shimbun reported, "The Japanese government intended to build up Osprey training records to improve capabilities and enhance deterrence. If this accident causes setbacks in deployment plans and operations, it will likely dampen Japan’s efforts to strengthen its defense capabilities."
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