Minister cautions U.S. military after part falls from U.S. Navy jet, hitting house

Let the anti-US military protests begin!

Nooooo, ground all F-18's . This is really bad timing for parts falling off the aircraft.

Well at least he will now get a free renovation.

It is never good timing. Shikkari shirou!

Cue the protests in three, two, one....

Protest, protest, protest!

Before/After. Perhaps they will rebuild his house for him, rather than just renovating it. Very lucky that no one was injured. Why do we need to know that the part is made of duralumin alloy? Just curious.

Parts don't fall off of planes that aren't being used to expand empire far from home. So, there's my protest on this. I suppose if I actually bothered to file U.S. taxes I'd be upset at the wasted part, but instead I'm just worried that a part is going to fall on MY house.

Go back to the U.S. Just because the Japanese gov't likes U.S. military presence doesn't mean a thing. They're the same breed of gangster anyway.

The plane was probably coming from or going to the Atsugi naval air facility, which is surrounded by the cities of Ayase and Yamato like ocean around an island. The situation is pretty crazy.

Some ごめんなさい money will make the problem go away. Just like car accidents.

Momotarou at 09:16 AM JST - 29th January; Well at least he will now get a free renovation.

Will he? He damn well ought to, it would be totally in order for the US to not only pay for his entire renovation but to also give various gifts to show their regret for not only almost killing those 3 people but also for almost giving them a heart attack through the shock. (When I say gifts I don't mean cars and suchlike. I just mean small gifts given with thoughtfulness and consideration. For example, if a vase was broken, find out what it was and buy a better one for them, and fill it with lovely flowers. Just an example of thoughtful gift giving to someone whose house you've almost trashed.)

But why do I suspect that these people will be lucky if they receive the cost of the glass?

This plane must've been operating out of NAF Atsugi.

wow, impeccable timing

The aircraft did not crash at the time without the part. Maybe the part is not important for the aircraft. I wonder why mechanical engineers put unnecessary thing to the aircraft?

This one cracks me up, how did they determine it was a US military aircraft with JN and US aircraft flying in this area all the time. But, here is the big kicker, duralumin is not used on any part of the FA-18 aircraft that I'm aware of, I may be wrong...

The guy should have kept this bit as a souvenir. Who knows, if this sort of incident happens that often, he might end up with his own FA-18.

Wow, Kwatt, I'm impressed with your knowledge of aircraft design! Aircraft have many parts that are not necessary for flight, but are there for other purposes. Inspection panels, sealing strips, al sorts of things. It's not like some evil American engineer purposely designed things to fall off and hit Japanese houses.

If the mirror or a piece of trim or a door handle falls off your car, does it stop working?

kwatt: The aircraft did not crash at the time without the part. Maybe the part is not important for the aircraft. I wonder why mechanical engineers put unnecessary thing to the aircraft?

Well, lets say it was a shock absorber. Maybe the plane can still land, albeit roughly. Enough rough jolts and bolts start to come loose. Sound like a plane you would like to fly? Somethings don't keep a plane flying today. They keep it flying tomorrow!

Go back to the U.S. Just because the Japanese gov't likes U.S. military presence doesn't mean a thing. They're the same breed of gangster anyway.

agreed 100%.

I would certainly like to know what kind of part we are talking about. We know it had circular contour and was 56cm . . . . Duralumin a light weight material, I believe. But it certainly was no tiny part. That description is off. At least we didn`t have a Donnie Darko scenario here with a complete engine dropping on the house.

Anyway, the aircraft thing was an accident and accidents happen.

but are there for other purposes. Inspection panels, sealing strips, al sorts of things. It's not like some evil American engineer purposely designed things to fall off and hit Japanese houses.

If you are right about your post, all aircrafts must be dangerous to near residents. I don't want any parts falling on my head, so all aircrafts must not fly over houses. Am I wrong?

accidents happen

No worries, the first time a piece of North Korean missile hits a house in Japan, this incident will be totally forgotten.

Absolutely right, Kwatt. All aircraft, whether military or civilian, must be grounded until assurance may be given that no accident will be happen. At least, that is what the shipbuilding industry is hoping.

its better than NK and Chinese missles... quit whining, it takes a lot to defend 125 million people who could care less...

The Navy should give this guy some money. $10,000 USD is good enough.

With parts falling off the plane it's lucky the whole plane didn't follow....

Aircraft not flying over houses? Sounds impossible to me.

I'm sure the compensation will far exceed the actual damage though.

This one cracks me up, how did they determine it was a US military >aircraft with JN and US aircraft flying in this area all the time.

"The fall of the component was confirmed during a checkup of the plane after it returned to the base"

Most parts on US Naval aircraft will have a NSN (or whatever the military is using these days) part number stamped on it. It makes it not only easy to identify that the part is from an American plane, but narrows down the possible plane types it could have come from. A quick check of the time of impact with air traffic control records will determine which plane(s) needed to be inspected.

I'm just glad nobody was hurt when the part fell. Even small things can be fatal when dropped from a considerable height.

Protest, protest, protest!

If there's anything to protest, it's why that plane that lost its part wasn't a JAPANESE naval jetfighter attached to a JAPANESE Carrier Airwing belonging to a JAPANESE aircraft carrier. Japan loves to forbid itself from having any of those things as a gesture of peace but it sure loves to hire foreign ones!

NeoJamal wrote:

If there's anything to protest, it's why that plane that lost its part wasn't a JAPANESE naval jetfighter attached to a JAPANESE Carrier Airwing belonging to a JAPANESE aircraft carrier. Japan loves to forbid itself from having any of those things as a gesture of peace but it sure loves to hire foreign ones!

Sixty-five years after the end of World War II, and twenty years after the disappearance of the Cold War, I'd say it's more a self-serving, cowardly gesture of comfort, convenience and currency than anything to do with peace.

I'd say it's more a self-serving, cowardly gesture of comfort, >convenience and currency than anything to do with peace.

No, it's just outsourcing. Cost effective you know.

it takes a lot to defend 125 million people

Defend them from who?

The758: Defend them from who?

And when was the last time they were defended?

Scratch that, when was the first time?