Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force conducts a search at Yakushima Island, Kagoshima Prefecture, Japan, December 1, 2023. /CFP
Japan is anxious that the U.S. army is constant to fly its V-22 Osprey plane regardless of its request to floor them following a deadly crash this week, a Tokyo’s prime authorities spokesperson on Friday.
Japan has urged the United States to substantiate the protection of its Osprey army plane, after one crashed into the ocean in western Japan on Wednesday, killing a minimum of one individual onboard, Japanese protection minister Minoru Kihara mentioned.
“The occurrence of such an accident causes great anxiety to the people of the region,” the minister mentioned within the parliament on Thursday. “And we are requesting the U.S. side to conduct flights of Ospreys deployed in Japan after these flights are confirmed to be safe.”
The United States is constant to function its army Osprey flights for now and that it was not conscious of any official request for his or her grounding, the Pentagon mentioned on Thursday.
Asked about that request, Japan’s chief cupboard secretary, Hirokazu Matsuno, mentioned Tokyo had “officially” made the request.
“We are concerned that despite our repeated requests, and in the absence of sufficient explanation, the Osprey continues to fly,” he mentioned throughout a news convention.
File picture exhibits Osprey army transport plane at a U.S. base in Okinawa, Japan, November 25, 2023. /Xinhua
A U.S. Osprey army transport plane primarily based in Japan crashed in waters off the nation’s southwestern island of Yakushima on Wednesday. One unconscious individual was discovered within the sea and later declared lifeless, in accordance with the Japan Coast Guard.
The reason for the crash and the standing of the seven others on board weren’t instantly recognized, and the seek for the remaining seven aboard continues, the Japan Coast Guard mentioned.
The U.S. Air Force mentioned that the CV-22 tilt-rotor transport plane concerned in a “mishap” whereas finishing up a routine coaching had eight airmen on board. The Japan Coast Guard had initially mentioned eight crew had been aboard the crashed Osprey earlier than revising the quantity down to 6 after which again to eight.
(With enter from Xinhua)
Source: CGTN