August 29, 2019 Ryukyu Shimpo online edition
On August 29 it came to the Ryukyu Shimpo’s attention that around 5:30 p.m. on August 27 the plastic window of a CH-53 helicopter from Futenma Air Station fell from the craft about 8 kilometers above the East China Sea off Okinawa Island.
On August 29 the Okinawa Defense Bureau (ODB) contacted some municipalities concerning the incident, including the Okinawa Prefecture, Chatan Town, Okinawa City, and Kadena Town.
The U.S. military had contacted the Japanese government on August 28.
According to the ODB, the fallen window is 58 centimeters in height, 47 centimeters wide, and weighs 1 kilogram. It appears to be a cargo hold window from the rear end of the aircraft.
There have been no reports of injured persons. In December 2017 a window from a CH-53 helicopter fell into the schoolyard of Futenma Daini Elementary School.
(English translation by T&CT and Erin Jones)
