Japan's early investigation of U.S. warplane crash sites to be allowed

This agreement should work both ways to also allow US forces to timely assist Japanese aircraft in distress:

In 1985 when JAL 123 crashed in Gumma the USAF offered to immediately send helicopters from nearby Yokota to start rescue, but was denied by the government. This stupidity caused more unnecessary deaths in this accident.

Later the few survivors reported that many injured were crying troughout the night, but by the time the "proper" Japanese rescures showed up in the morning it was dead quiet...

34 years later they still didn't learn from this debacle.

Good idea. And if they get there fast enough, they'll beat the crowds of protesters.

Sure, resonates with me. The USA military is going to allow the nation that it defeated and has occupied for 70+ years to do what? Got it... sure, this is a positive step. Good grief.

Though it has been years in the making, Japan does offer the best research in investigations as they are extremely thorough but it should apply both ways and allow US assistance vs the waiting game. The Sendai experience to name one of many. The trouble will lay with communication and lost in translation issues involving HM though. That needs to be carefully explored first then a best decision way forward.

Well, it makes sense to have bilateral co-operation in this sort of thing. They are operating in Japan..

Good move overall but there are times when U.S. only investigators/rescue personnel should be allowed into a crash site. Type of aircraft and its contents make a difference. If its only a cargo plane empty there should be no problem for early entry of fire, rescue, or routine police presents to protect the area until US personnel arrive.

On the other hand, if it's an intelligence aircraft none US persons should not be allow into the site without US permission and escort. Protection of special equipment may be a matter of National Security.

Also an aircraft that may be armed and crashes should be guarded but the crash site should not be entered by any personnel other than US specialist for safety reasons.

Basic Police, Fire and rescue/medical personnel should be allow i as soon as possible but specific "Accident Investigators should never be allowed in the crash site without US permission and US escort and supervision.

Far to often in accident events Japan's first priority seems always to be investigation for the perpose of placing blame and establishing groundwork for suing someone for damages and actual accident investigation for determining causes future prevention are further down the line in priorities. Sad but very true.

Glad the US is allowing japanese authorities to occupy japanese land. I wonder if an SDF aircraft went down near Dallas Texas if japans SDF could investigate on site.

Carl n:

The US and Japan are allies. The US should be the ones requesting to investigate off base. It should be a courtesy and not a requirement. Only embassies and military bases are considered foreign soil. The rest of Japan belongs to the japanese, hence the police, SDF, and any other japanese authorities should have exclusive rights to rescue and investigation. Again, should be a courtesy to allow US to join, not vice versa.

I guess there's someone against national sovereignty. Oh well.

Carl N Jpn GcjpJuly 27  07:49 pm JST

Far to often in accident events Japan's first priority seems always to be investigation for the perpose of placing blame and establishing groundwork for suing someone for damages and actual accident investigation for determining causes future prevention are further down the line in priorities. Sad but very true.

Oh that has been the American position concerning not only Japan, but also France. However, this mentality has led to Americans being not held criminally responsible when perhaps they should be, such as when USS Grenville sliced a Japanese fishing-training vessel.