Governor Tamaki comments on the 2 F16 fighter jets still grounded at Shimoji Island Airport, “They must be linked to a very significant accident.” (17ap23)
Splendor of Okinawa: Monks cress, roadside Uruma, 13ap23 On 8 April, 2 US AIr Force F16 fighter jets attached to the US Air Force base at Osan, Korea, made emergency landings at Shimoji Airport in Miyakojima City. (trans. note: If the F16s flew out of Osan, they were well past their combat radius, though within their ferry - empty of all cargo - range. Could they have been on a one-way flight to Taiwan?) On 14 April, 6 days later, they were still parked at that airport. On 15 April, it had become a full week since the emergency landings. On the morning of 14 April, Governor Denny Tamaki held his scheduled press conference. He showed his concern over aircraft troubles, noting, “Very significant accidents invariably involve life and property.” To the US Military, he requested an open airing of the cause, measures to prevent a recurrence, with thorough safety checks and such during maintenance. Asked about notification of the date of the aircraft taking off again, Governor Ta...