Okinawa governor requests the prevention of a recurrence of helicopter emergency landings, claiming, “They’re causing great anxiety among our prefecture’s people!” (25no24)

Splendor of Okinawa: Bush Clockvine, roadside Futenma, 22no24


A US Marine Corps H1 general purpose helicopter attached to the US Military Futenma Airfield in Ginowan made an emergency landing at a pastoral grassland at Ginama in Kunigami Village, near Hedo Bluff, the northernmost tip of Okinawa Island in Okinawa Prefecture.

　

In response, at his scheduled press conference on 15 November, Okinawa Prefecture Governor Denny Tamaki stated, “It’s extremely regrettable that our prefecture’s people have again been caused such great anxiety.” He will request the US side to investigate the cause and prevent a recurrence.


On 15 November at about 1 in the afternoon, the helicopter took off and flew back to Futenma Airfield. On 14 November about 5 p.m., the helicopter had made an emergency landing in a civilian pastoral grassland about 1.6 kilometers southwest of Hedo Bluff. There was no damage to the fuselage and the crew received no injuries. Since there were no homes in the area, neither was there damage on that front. 


According to the Defense Ministry, because of a flickering warning light, the crew landed the helicopter. The US Marine Corps First Marine Air Wing, without mentioning the cause of the landing, informed the press only, “During routine exercises, a precautionary landing happened.”


At his press conference, Governor Tamaki noted that since the start of this year, there have been a rash of emergency landings all over the prefecture by helicopters attached to Futenma Airfield. The governor further stated, “Anxiety and complaints from our prefecture’s residents are on the rise. We can’t help but be engulfed in strong feelings of distrust that a recurrence can be prevented.”


Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, at a press conference after the 15 November Cabinet meeting claimed,  “The guaranteed safety in the use of US Military aircraft is our basic premise. We request that our expectations for safe management by the US side be flawless!”


Original Japanese article: Mainichi Shimbun, published Friday 15 November 2024 at 18:31. Byline: Hiroshi Higa, Shinnosuke Kyan, and Tsumugi Nakamura

https://news.yahoo.co.jp/articles/89276d99a973226023575d68edca67251d77cd00


Denny in the News:

Denny Tamaki is the governor of Okinawa Prefecture in Japan. Although Okinawa is important as an international tourist destination and a key element in strategic US Military Forces, its governor receives very little coverage in the Japanese press and almost none in the English language media. 


This blog hopes to  translate one news article a day on the governor.  It is unsponsored and unauthorized. The translator simply hopes to improve his skills and perhaps give the governor an English speaking audience. 


Any suggestion on improving my translation will be gratefully accepted. However, please leave political comments for another forum.


Where they occur, words and phrases in Ryukyuan (the Okinawan language) are rendered in italics and translated in parentheses. Names  whose readings are uncertain are rendered as Name (=Kanji?) as in Nagayuki (=長行?). Any corrections in such instances would be gratefully appreciated.


 

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