Another U.S. military chopper makes emergency landing near Okinawa hotel

Okinawa itself is a big U.S. base. People of Okinawa live in small openings left by bases.

Coming from someone who has never been here and has no idea what they are talking about, just like the protesters that come down here from mainland stirring up trouble.

Okinawa can do without either!

Why does Japan have to build it for Americans?

To provide business for Japanese companies and to boost employment rates of Japanese graduates. Developing an entire island will provide a myriad of jobs not just for those in the construction industries but also for farmers who will provide food for the servicemen. Not to mention the blue collar workers needed to drive trucks and construction equipment.

Japanese transport industries will also flourish because ships, trucks, planes, etc will be needed to ferry people and equipment to the artificial islands from Okinawa.

There will also be a need for more university researchers and research assistants to study the best way to develop the soil and foundations for the artificial islands. Ergo, the new artificial island will lead to an increase in academic development and student intake --- increase in funding for schools and universities.

Everyone wins.

Er..Guam anybody, or Hawaii?

Hahaha! It's so funny hearing that China will invade Japan!

Beijing is now busy with their Belt and Road / New Silk Road trillion dollar business so why should they wage war?

China makes business not war!

Heck, even da-kine USA is PRC's silent partner!

Only Uncle Sam profits from war.

This China threat hyping obviously is aimed at prolonging the military occupation of Okinawa by the colonizer Mericans and obviously also to promote and help their arms industry.

 I don't see why an artificial island cannot be build for the Americans near Okinawa.

Why does Japan have to build it for Americans? The US just let JSDF take more roles of US military forces, then Japan would not need such a thing. Present US military are stationed all over Japan, because it is all logistics insistently for Japan.

A helicopter that was experiencing mechanical issues landed in a safe area, rather than risking a crash. And what exactly is wrong with that?

The solution then is to build an artificial island NEAR Okinawa and move the entire armed forces there. 

I think the more immediate solution right now is to fix what ever is wrong with these aircraft.

Heck, to save cost and rather than build an artificial island, why not just develop Aguni island or Kumejima island and make either of those into a new base for the US Armed Forces? Kumejima already has a fully functional aircraft runway.

The day the US Forces leave Okinawa is the day china will invade the island.

The solution then is to build an artificial island NEAR Okinawa and move the entire armed forces there. Japan will have the best of both worlds :- US Forces for security & Okinawans can live in peace.

If Kansai Airport could be built using 80's technology, I don't see why an artificial island cannot be build for the Americans near Okinawa.

They seriously have some maintenance issues. Maybe it's indicative of Trump's administration.

NAN

It seems that Japan doesn't want such military troubles here. The US should let JSDF take more roles of US military to protect only Japan step by step then half of US military could go home in 10 years. Japan is Japan, not USA. As long as there is US and Japan security treaty, so Japan would have to accept some US military bases somewhere though.

The police corrected the number of crew members aboard to two from the initially announced four.

The Police Officers need to go to Specsavers.

America should just pack it up in Okinawa, make all of JAPAN happy! Right? I mean the JAPANESE don't need the American Military there anymore correct? Okinawa would be fine with out the American presence, all the Japanese I talk to apparently think so:) Then Atsugi Next, followed by Misawa then Yokota and Yokosuka, then Zama and what evers left! Give Japan back to the Japanese, YANKEE GO HOME RIGHT? JAPAN Doesn't want the US here, they don't need them, they are perfectly capable of defending their own nation.

Just pack up shop and leave Okinawa to the Okinawanese to defend.

Okinawa itself is a big U.S. base. People of Okinawa live in small openings left by bases. Dangers are inseparable from the bases. Make tax a lot cheaper for those who live in dangerous Okinawa.

Let a stateside investigative team make that determination. If the birds and maintenance crews can't handle the stress we need to know about it yesterday

Agreed 100%.

Tommy JonesToday 10:05 am JST

Agreed with the praise for the pilot. Not certain I agree with the condemnation of the maintenance crews. Tensions in this area have been soaring for many months, which requires stepped up training, which puts more stress on the birds and crew

Let a stateside investigative team make that determination. If the birds and maintenance crews can't handle the stress we need to know about it yesterday.

What goes up must come down, and helicopters even more so.

The Osprey was probably designed to be a next-gen hybrid VTOL/STOL and mitigate some of the older heli fleet problems, but that has had an even more unpopular press in Japan. The F35 can use very short runways but is not a troop carrier. Looks like there is a still a gap to be filled, for a craft that can do everything for everyone, and quietly at the same time, an aircraft that is as yet science fiction, an enduring challenge for young engineers.

In the meantime the whole Okinawa crew need to get together in the sweat lodge.

Agreed with the praise for the pilot. Not certain I agree with the condemnation of the maintenance crews. Tensions in this area have been soaring for many months, which requires stepped up training, which puts more stress on the birds and crews.

Thumbs up to the pilots for a safe emergency landing, and thumbs down to the Futenma maintenance crew. Agree a higher level team needs to be brought in from stateside for a complete investigation and review of all maintenance procedures and protocols. Looks to me like some heads should roll.

The fact that the landing was precautionary would suggest that the USA military stationed in Okinawa take safety very seriously.

gelendestrasse

If there is a some kinda military mission, they of course can fly anywhere, however no mission or for just daily drill they can't fly over town/resident area in America. Never seen military planes flying over towns for military drills.

kwatt, please cite a reference? I know of no restrictions on military planes in the US so long as they follow the typical flight rules, and I'm a pilot. There are places I can't go as a civilian but nowhere the military can't go.

It is very understandable why any military plane flying over town is against the law in USA. They even can't fly over American residents in Okinawa bases.

Not again?

And Trump is unconnected to this US problem, so far as we know.

Sheesh!!!

So no credit given to the pilots for landing the choppers safely?

 Probably the former since they do not withdraw from Okinawa despite their unpopularity

You ever wonder why they don't withdraw?

Is it America who want to keep their military in Okinawa or is it Japan asking them to stay in Okinawa? Probably the former since they do not withdraw from Okinawa despite their unpopularity. Many bombers flew to Vietnam from Kadena Air Base and to the middle east later.

They need to suspend all flight operations immediately, bring in an inspection team from the U.S., and do an exhaustive review of all aspects of flight operations, with a particular focus on maintenance / servicing. As the Deputy Governor said a few days ago, this is beginning to feel like a systemic issue.

What does an Okinawan weather forecast sound like these days? Today will be mostly fine with a chance of scattered helicopter showers?

What's going on here?

According to the FAA there were 105 fatal civilian helicopter crashes last year. Flying and maintaining choppers is much more difficult than fixed-wing aircraft.

I’’m all against the military in Okinawa, but this is getting ridiculous . . .

Lt Gen. Lawrence Nicholson, the top commander of U.S. military forces in Okinawa, offered an apology for the recent incidents to Okinawa Deputy Gov Moritake Tomikawa on the phone, according to an Okinawa prefectural official

Sorry, but with the spate of incidents occurring here recently a telephone call just doesn't cut it General! You need to get your self down to the Kencho and make a formal and heartfelt apology.

Grounding everything for a couple of weeks would help too!

O.K.; I’m all for the military in Okinawa, but this is getting ridiculous. Is everyone asleep at the wrench over at Futenma?