U.S. Navy investigating how parts fell off aircraft near Atsugi

Who in hell put that plane together, that company should be sued.

Who in hell put that plane together, that company should be sued.

That's good one, but can we wait for more information? Did the metal fall off or from the aircraft?

Lots of US aircraft from Atusgi buzzing round yesterday, being on the flight path has me worried now. Time to move all aircraft from atsugi to an unpopulated area, no need to have an air base in such a densly populated area, and the noise these things makes is unbearable, can't hear the TV or carry on a phone conversation when they are any where near over head.

Years ago there was a US plane plummeted out of the sky into Machida city, not good at all.

ExportExpert, building airports or bases in isolated areas does not work. Idiots will build their homes and businesses around them. The real brilliant ones will build at each end of the runways.

Us aircrafts falling apart in the air...hahaha

@ExportExpert

The Navy recently announced that the air wing’s Prowlers will be transferred to Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash., in early spring, and replaced with newer EA-18G Growler jets.

Accidents happen, be they accidents like this or old people driving into supermarkets. Do what you can to prevent them, but they'll still happen or be replaced by other accidents. At least no one was injured.

Another reason to move to Guam, or better yet, the USA. It is going to happen, Japan, prepare now. "The sky is falling."

Wait, what, it can't be! American patriots have assured me that American planes are 100% safe and that only planes made in socialist countries fall apart...

'Accidents happen', Hmm. Could there be a more asinine rationalization of incompetence on the part --pun not intended-- of the USAF. ‘Accidents happen’ , just roll that round your mouth and THEN your mind. Does it sit well? That military aircraft that belong to a different nation is dropping its bits over urban areas, where children, people, play and work? Exactly.

That military aircraft that belong to a different nation is dropping its bits over urban areas, where children, people, play and work?

That's true. Parts dropping off of a Japanese self defense plane would not be any danger to anyone or anything.

are 100% safe

Anyone that says anything is 100% safe is 100% incorrect.

The US began the air attacking again.

Hundreds and hundreds of metal parts and massive engines vibrating every screw, bolt and rivet... its a wonder this stuff does not happen more often. Heck.. it probably does but its just a rare event when it hits something people would notice.

Time to change the duct tape.

All those US fighters from the carrier are moving to Iwamkuni soon anyway. Govt agrees, these things should not be flying over heavily populated areas.

Wouldnt might a heat seeking missile at times when these things are screaming in.

Iwamkuni = Iwakuni

YangYong,

Perhaps you could share something that is 100%?

BTW, something similar happened with an SDF plane within the last year.

100% safe.

I have a huge roof garden and the jets fly right over me all the time. Those electronic planes do not fly so much. However, it has been very loud this past week, and I can wave to the pilots, as they come in very low.

Hope nothing falls on me, and lucky no one got hurt.

If it hadn't hit a Japanese car (driver) you can be sure this would not have been reported. Nuts and bolts are always falling off during takeoff and landing, hence the microscopic inspections of the runway every day especially onboard an aircraft carrier.

Export, who has been there longer? You or the base?! You can't move into the area knowing it is near a base and then turn around and complain about it. I also doubt the population was as dense as it was when the base was built.

Kanagawa....Ginowan feels for you

Very good point, tmarie, and one I often think of when I see media comments about schools in Okinawa "endangered" by flights from nearby bases.

I'm eager to see more details about this news story: the "at least six" sounds odd, and I find it a little hard to believe that so many large pieces could have fallen off an aircraft. The description sounds more like pieces of scaffolding than pieces of an aircraft (particularly if the aircraft continued to fly thereafter).

tmarie

Export, who has been there longer? You or the base?! You can't move into the area knowing it is near a base and then turn around and complain about it. I also doubt the population was as dense as it was when the base was built.

Sadly Tmarie this happens all the time, people know there is an airport there when they move to the area and then complain about the noise. It annoys the **** out of me what did they think they live near an airport you know with planes that make noise... And when they where initially built they where sited there because of lack of people living nearby but people move closer and develop the land and build their houses because the land is usually cheaper because of the noise then they complain about that very noise. Unbelievable!!!! If you dont want airplane noise dont live near an airport or under the approach or departure areas for an airport its that simple.

Balefire, someone mentioned it up on the thread, but duct tape is used often to repair military aircraft. Not to hard to believe large pieces can fall off a military plane/helicopter.

cletus and tmarie, if your logic was correct then no one would live within 50 miles of the base, so from tama river outwards there would be no houses offices?

You are dillusional.

Parts should not be falling of US millitary aircreaft regardless of where they are flying, except maybe in battle. This is a civillian city not a millitary town. We deserve not to be bombarded by parts of a plane get realistic.

The people of Japan has been 'get used' with this for more than 65 years and they understood why foreign military aircrafts flew ahead their roof as long as they like!

Machida is far from atsugi but we still have to endure this noise. Thankfully the J govt have give me 4 million yen to double glaze windows my house.

If anyone is dillusional it is the person who knowingly moved to an area close to an airbase who then turns around and complains about the noise.

Indeed parts shouldn't be falling from planes. No one is disagreeing with you on that. We're disagreeing with your audacity to complain about the noise.

And 50km?! You're being a tad dramatic on that. If you don't lie the noise, move. Though expect to pay more as it is well known land is cheaper near runways.

Just close the US bases. Time for the US military to go home.

Bye!

the person who knowingly moved to an area close to an airbase who then turns around and complains about the noise.

What happens if the person lived there before the base?

ExportExpert

cletus and tmarie, if your logic was correct then no one would live within 50 miles of the base, so from tama river outwards there would be no houses offices? You are dillusional.

Not delusional just practical and realistic. When looking for a house to live in here in Japan my family was given several options and a couple of the options put us under the flight path for an airport. Given that fact we said no thanks and found a different location. It wasnt really that hard because rather than move there and then complain about airplane noise we took a logical step and said no afterall the airport was their first. So in effect its your choice you choose to live under a flight path or near an airport its YOUR choice. You made the choice you deal with the results noise etc.

Parts should not be falling of US millitary aircreaft regardless of where they are flying, except maybe in battle. This is a civillian city not a millitary town. We deserve not to be bombarded by parts of a plane get realistic.

Lets see firstly l will correct on thing parts should not be falling of ANY aircraft, parts also fall off JASDF planes and commercial planes from time to time. It happens and guess what! Shock horror its more likely to happen in areas under flight paths which goes back to YOUR choice to live their.

Its really that simple

So in effect its your choice you choose to live under a flight path or near an airport its YOUR choice.

Cletus, and if you lived there before the airstrip was built, then what?

do u have any idea how old a prowler is? it should be scrap metal by now...cant they afford some new planes?

at least it wasnt an a380

Gurukun

"So in effect its your choice you choose to live under a flight path or near an airport its YOUR choice." Cletus, and if you lived there before the airstrip was built, then what

Well given that the first airbase was built on this site in 1939 and at the time Yamato was a small village and Ayase was a collection of small hamlets then l would say the vast majority of people living in the area moved in after the airbase was built there wouldnt you?

Guru, if you were there before the base, by all means complain. But as pointed out, I doubt anyone complaining about the noise was there before the base.

A bit of shrapnel from a plane beats a bomb from NK. I'm with smithinjapan, accidents happen. The rotor from the truck in front of me might fly apart, tear through my windshield and kill me at the next red light.

WOW - Good aircraft, I wonder how many other aircraft could have made it back safely after losing that kind of big parts without crashing and surely doing alot more damage or worse. Congrads to the pilot.

But as pointed out, I doubt anyone complaining about the noise was there before the base.

They might not have been there, but it doesn't mean their family didn't own land before the base was built. If you moved there after the base was built, you have no right to complain about the neighborhood. If you live on ancestral land that has been despoiled by the presence of the base, then you have a more legitimate grievance.

A bit of shrapnel from a plane beats a bomb from NK

Are those my only two choices?

EXPORT - I was going to say you have every right to complain until I noticed the heatseeking comment. Now I think I need to file a report with the US embassy.

Cletus firstly the yanky doodles should have been moved from this base along time ago as planned, we moved here aware there was a base but also aware they were moving, so happens they over stayed their welcome, secondly PARTS SHOULD NOT BE FALLING OFF AIRCRAFT .

Parts falling off means some one isnt doing their job or the people making them arn't making them very well, and seeing as these planes are US made it's easy to see the comparisons with the cars they make LOL. only thing is when parts fall off their cars they land on the highway not on some ones roof of their house or on top of their city.

Time the americans moved off the base and long over due.

Lots of people living round here are on ancestral land too so what are they supposed to do? DUCK? They cant be expected just to move off cause americans arn't maintaining their hardware properly.

You not american are you cletus?

You're shifting goalposts. You stated YOU moved to the area so no idea why you're now jabbering away about ancestral land. As I stated, if you were there before the base, by all means complain.

I don't think a date for them to leave was in writing so you really don't have any leg to stand on with regards to noise. And again, everyone is in agreeance that things shouldn't be falling off planes. You could save yourself the stress and move if it bothers you that much.

For those upset with the noise - who were there before the base - take it up with the Japanese government. They agree to the terms of the us military, they pretty much picked the areas... The military is just doing what they do. Besides, I'm under the impression they have no fly times. Any idea how rare those are for those who live on or near bases?!

Others around me are living on ancestral land tmarie, never ever said I WAS girlie.

It has been taken up with the govt hence they paying out to everyone for double glazing etc.

And them moving from atsugi is in writing.

They US dont adhere to the no fly times, sposed to be no fly after 9pm but often you can hear planes at 10pm or later.

By the way we are still quite far from atusgi base too its not like live right ontop of the damn thing.

Have alook on google maps for atsugi base then look at the train stations in machida you'll see the distance is far.

The base was there first. When it was built atsugi was the closest city. That's why it's called Atsugi base even though Atsugi is a half hour away. When the base was built, people had the sense not to build it in the middle of a densely populated area. Unfourtunately people moved there afterwards and now they complain about the noise. If the base was moved again, the same thing would happen. Bases provide jobs and where there are jobs, communities are built. And this is not just a US base. It's shared base with both Japanese and us military plans operating yet people are turning this into a 'yanks go home' issue. If the us military left japan that base would still be there. This could have happened with a Japanese plane and no one would say a thing. They should not have allowed homes to be built so close to an airstrip.

ExportExpert

Cletus firstly the yanky doodles should have been moved from this base along time ago as planned, we moved here aware there was a base but also aware they were moving, so happens they over stayed their welcome, secondly PARTS SHOULD NOT BE FALLING OFF AIRCRAFT .

Maybe you should have a look and see just how regularly parts fall off aircraft, in the past year there was the JASDF F-15 that lost its drop tank and part of a dummy missile, the wheel that fell off the commuter plane in UK, the Jetstar plane that had something fall off it, the Delta plane that lost part of an engine, etc etc etc. So yes things shouldnt fall of f planes but they do and guess what if you live near an airport or under a flight path the chances increase of it hitting your property.

Parts falling off means some one isnt doing their job or the people making them arn't making them very well, and seeing as these planes are US made it's easy to see the comparisons with the cars they make LOL. only thing is when parts fall off their cars they land on the highway not on some ones roof of their house or on top of their city.

Funny but the JASDF F-15's where Japanese made, and the Jetstar plane was an Airbus aircraft, so to say its only US aircraft and therefore shoddy US workmanship shows your anti US bias and the lameness of your comments.

Lots of people living round here are on ancestral land too so what are they supposed to do? DUCK? They cant be expected just to move off cause americans arn't maintaining their hardware properly.

So your telling me that from a small village and 8 hamlets to the current size and the majority of people there are on ancestral lands? Seriously must be an inbreeding issue by now. Come on get real how many of the current resident would actually have lived or had land around the base before it was built in 1939?

You not american are you cletus?

Nope, cant stand them actually. But equally cant stand people who complain over something they themselves inflicted on themself.

History of the base in question: The 1,249 acres of Naval Air Facility Atsugi lies in the heart of the Kanto Plain on Honshu, the main island of Japan. The base was originally built in 1938 by the Japanese Imperial Navy as Emperor Hirohito's Naval Air Base.

The base was a there as a Japanese Air base before it became a US base....

No, parts should not fall off planes, Japanese included. No one was hurt, thankfully, but you know that someone is going to get a nicely US gov't funded check now.:)

The Prowlers are old, Vietnam era and are being decommissioned, in fact the ones in question should be out of Japan very, very soon. Welcome more noise though as the replacement, the Growler is true to its name. We call that annoying noise those of you complain about 'the sound of freedom.' We navy pilot wives happen to love it!!

Methinks this will be further fodder for the right-wingers like Ishihara who wish to re-arm and expand Japanese Military - nukes included - and close down as many US bases as they can.

Personally, I'm more concerned about the present and real risks of nuclear reactors and man-made disasters harming the citizens here than the remote possibility of being hit by falling debris!

Cletus

So your telling me that from a small village and 8 hamlets to the current size and the majority of people there are on ancestral lands? Seriously must be an inbreeding issue by now. Come on get real how many of the current resident would actually have lived or had land around the base before it was built in 1939?

You making thing sup to suit yourself now, i said where i live many around me are on ancestral land, if you came here you'd see there were farms and they been left to and divided up into land for the offspring, you cna see the same familly names on many many letter boxes round here,.

We are far from the base and no where near a run way, you try to make it sound like i moved in right next door to the runway.

Good thing is these noisey badly built piles of american rubbish will be gone soon. THATS ALL THAT MATTERS!

ExportExpert

You making thing sup to suit yourself now, i said where i live many around me are on ancestral land, if you came here you'd see there were farms and they been left to and divided up into land for the offspring, you cna see the same familly names on many many letter boxes round here,.

No buddy you are the one making things up to suit yourself, l specifically mentioned the cities of Yamato and Ayase. And you came back with the statement that most of the people in these cities lived on ancestral lands.

We are far from the base and no where near a run way, you try to make it sound like i moved in right next door to the runway.

Then why are you complaining then

Good thing is these noisey badly built piles of american rubbish will be gone soon. THATS ALL THAT MATTERS!

Yeah as l said and have given you examples its not only US planes that have bits fall off but also European and even your superior Japanese built planes so please get serious it's obvious you have a hatred for the US but at least get some facts before talking nonsense.

Readers, no more bickering please.

**Others around me are living on ancestral land tmarie, never ever said I WAS girlie.

It has been taken up with the govt hence they paying out to everyone for double glazing etc.

And them moving from atsugi is in writing.** Sexist comment. Government doing something about the complaints. Dates not in writing.

You've now just admitted you aren't "near" the runway. What are you crying about??

Another reason to move to Guam, or better yet, the USA.

Well Guam IS part of the USA...

I thought it was a little drafty when I got home yesterday...anyone want to acquire some sheet metal with funny markings ???

Who's gonna fix the hole in my ceiling ???

Oh and reading the above comments , there is no way Atsugi is going to be moved.

People love Atsugi in Yamato area . The changed take off and landing times to basically daylight hours and now you don't see people boycotting Atsugi anymore. Only complaint residents had of Atsugi was the noise.

Actually now when I hear these aircraft taking off and landing at night I feel secure because they are making their presence felt where and when it's needed.

Hear them at night you know s$&t is happening somewhere even if it doesn't make the news .

All these do gooders....be the first to cry help me help me when crap actually hits the fan, don't be naive enough to think it couldn't happen....America obviously is focusing on Asia now for reasons that aren't know to the general public !

EA-6B Prowlers airframes are about 30 - 40 years old. 1970's era airplanes

These planes are very old time to change them out introduce EA-18's

at least it's not chinese aircraft dropping parts

Think about that joke for a minute because it can happen

those planes are protecting japan, south korea and etc from N.Korea and china.

Wake up to reality

Never said i was near the runway tmarie, said i am on the flight path two different things, still get too much noise but not crying as you would have it. Noting sexist in calling a girl girlie either. And the move date of US from atsugi IS in writing, other bases maybe not but atsugi is written.

So no comments about the jeitai plane that had to make an emergency stop at the Nagoya Airport? Why are there never protests about the Japanese planes and bases?!

US military planes are no more protecting Japan from North Korean and China than Chinese planes are protecting China or North Korea.

It's the good old, protection racket.

"Give us some money and we'll protect you from those guys over there!"

Of course, the guys over there are saying the same thing to their guys.

Let's put an end to this, the only people who profit from it are the arms companies.

I'm surprised there are EA-6B Prowlers still in service! They were in use when I was in the Navy back in the early 80's. Granted, as an ECM platform they don't normally do much high-G maneuvering, but STILL - thirty year-old planes doing catapult launches and arrester-gear landings... O_o

Okay folks, a little info on Navy/USMC aircraft. It's called TFOA, Things Falling Off Aircraft, no kidding. The Gauntlets of VAQ-136 are probably having what's called a "Safety Standdown" at the moment, reviewing how these panels, aircraft "skin" if you will, fell off in flight. Generally, TFOA is small things, like blade-type antennae that fail in high-G turns, but sometimes due to material failures. Since most sorties are flown over water, the parts are not recovered. Before each flight, the planes are carefully inspected by: the pilot and aircrew, the "plane captain", reps from each branch if the Maintenance department, QA, and the Maintenance Chief. That's a lot of eyes, folks. Been there. Sometimes, however, there is the rare case that despite the many eyes, a panel is not perfectly fastened, and in a hard turn, the twist-lock fasteners pop, which possibly happened in this case. The fear-mongering in these comments is pathetic. And not a one of the EA6Bs is more than 20years old. Check the side numbers.

Where is USNinJapan2 He's the mechanic

Thanks Herve - at ast a sensible and informed post.

last even :-)

I was EAWS. Well informed. But I think the US bases should all be closed.

American planes are falling to pieces mid-air!

Perhaps the Japanese government should reconsider buying the F-35... the Eurofighter would have been better... never get pieces of metal falling off that terrific piece of kit.

Given the cost, every tiny bolt that falls off an F-35 it will be worth thousands of dollars.

These things happen and it is not always due to the airframes age. These airframes were given extensive rebuilds. It is sad that some of the parts of the EA6B came down to earth before the rest of the plane. This is an aviation thing, we are not perfect and our planes are not as well. It could of been far far worse and as long as we fly planes there will be this problem.

keika1628

Where is USNinJapan2 He's the mechanic

Sorry to disappoint you but I don't do maintenance work on them. I only fly them.

I could imagine the driver seeing the aircraft part falling from the sky 'ALIEN!?!?' lol

Funny how no one has said that this was made by humans yet. Truth of the matter, anything anyone makes has the ability to fail regardless as to how much we try to keep it from happening. Japanese homes crumble in major earthquakes, Korean ships sink from rouge waves, American plane parts fall off in flight, British flame-proof clothing (claimed) catches fire near lava. Now read the last sentence without any nationality. Let's face it, we are all only human (I hope), and errors are a way of life no matter how much we try to prevent them. All we can do is do our best and learn from those mistakes.

Sorry to disappoint you but I don't do maintenance work on them. I only fly them.

Well could you stop throwing parts and dumping blue ice out over my place in Saitama on the way back to base. I bet you are flying those C130's coming back from Hokaido every afternoon . Thank you.

Worse things fall from planes, every so often corpses fall from airliners after traveling from overseas. They are people who hid in the wheel wells and die in flight from the cold and lack of oxygen.

Thank God that nobody on the ground was hurt, or even worse. Stuff like this will happen though, it's unavoidable.

keika1628-

Someone correct me if I am wrong, but pretty sure those C130's are Japanese craft....

keika1628

Well could you stop throwing parts and dumping blue ice out over my place in Saitama on the way back to base. I bet you are flying those C130's coming back from Hokaido every afternoon .

You'll have to talk to the Air Force bubbas about those Hercs. As for the blue ice, just count yourself lucky that it's blue and not yellow...

kurumazaka- Yep, you are right, my mistake. Actually I was thinking the P-3 Orions which are also a larger, fixed wing aircraft that in Atsugi are Japanese only. C130's are traditionally Air Force and would be from Yokota or Misawa.

Let's just say I lived in Ayase once upon a time. I actually had more disturbance from the helo's(mostly Japanese) which fly quite low and would rattle my windows and dishes. But no complaint from me, they are doing their job, or making sure they are trained well enough to do their job. At least with the jets they fly by FAST! :)

Sorry chaps Royal Air Flush corp here, just have a bit of malarkey with the flyers. You'll notice from my avatar that I fly a pretty cool fly. designed it myself.

Doubtful that Grumman (Northrop) has had their hands on that aircraft since it was built many years ago, likely one of the VAQ-136 maintainers either didn't get the panels(s) buttoned down properly or something failed.