Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Al Mayadeen's correspondent: One was killed, another injured in a raid by an Israeli drone on the city of Khiam in South Lebanon
London views possibility of setting fire to tanker in port of friendly country to Russia to damage port infrastructure, initiate an international probe: Moscow
One of London's scenarios involves setting up accident with 'undesirable' tanker in one of the bottlenecks of maritime communications: Russian foreign intelligence agency
London plans to organize major sabotage with tankers to declare transportation of Russian oil to international shipping: Russian foreign intelligence agency
UK intelligence agencies plan to use NATO allies to launch massive raid on 'Shadow Fleet': Russian foreign intelligence agency
Palestinian Ministry of Health: Two were martyred in Israeli shelling that targeted a besieged house in the town of Qabatiya in Jenin
At least 68 dead in migrant shipwreck off Yemen: IOM
Trump: We want to feed the people in Gaza, we do not want them to starve.
US President Donald Trump: We will impose sanctions on Russia if it does not end the war on Ukraine.
Israeli media: Polls show that 52% oppose Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu while only 29% support him.

US Osprey uproar: Japanese citizens rally against flights resumption

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 23 Mar 2024 10:16
  • 4 Shares
3 Min Read

The protests underscore the concerns and apprehensions of the Japanese populace regarding the safety record of Osprey aircraft.

  • x
  • U.S. MV-22B Osprey transport aircraft are parked at the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan, south of Okinawa, southern Japan, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023. (AP)
    US MV-22B Osprey transport aircraft are parked in the US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan, south of Okinawa, southern Japan, Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023. (AP)

Japanese citizens took to the streets in a rallying protest at Chiba Prefecture to protest against the resumption of Osprey flights by the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (GSDF) at its base in Kisarazu.

This marked the first flight of the Osprey aircraft at the Kisarazu base in over three months since a US Osprey aircraft carrying eight people crashed off Japan's southwestern island of Yakushima in Kagoshima Prefecture on November 29 last year.

The tilt-rotor Osprey aircraft, which can fly both like a helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft, has a track record of accidents and mishaps both in Japan and abroad.

In August, a US Osprey crashed off the coast of northern Australia, killing three crew members. Another crash landed in the ocean off Japan's southern island of Okinawa in December 2016.

Related News

Putin open to meeting Zelensky pending expert-level talks: Peskov

Pro-'Israel' Democrats breaking with Netanyahu amid Gaza war

The rally underscored the concerns and apprehensions of the Japanese populace regarding the safety record of Osprey aircraft. Furthermore, it reflected a broader sentiment of discontent and distrust toward the US military presence and operations in Japan.

Dive deeper

Last week, officials announced that the US and Japanese militaries would recommence flights of Osprey aircraft in Japan after conducting required maintenance and training in the wake of a deadly crash in southern Japan last November.

It is worth noting that the US military lifted the Osprey flight ban on March 8 yet refrained from publicly revealing the accident's cause, leading to considerable outrage among Japanese locals.
 
"While they claim there's nothing wrong with the design or structure, but I find it pretty hard to believe. In the past, the accidents were attributed to human error such as operational mistakes. However, this time they said that there are problems with a specific part in a specific place of the aircraft without saying what they are," said a protester named Yugo Yoshida as quoted by Reuters.

"It's unacceptable that they approved the resumption of flights, even for testing purposes, without explaining the reasons to the citizens and residents of the area. I find it difficult to accept and cannot understand the Japanese government's peculiar practice of unquestioningly following the commands of the United States," said another protester named Shigeru Kuzuhara as quoted by Reuters.

Another Japanese citizen who preferred to remain anonymous told Reuters, "The noise from the Osprey during flight is seriously loud. With the Osprey grounded for nearly four months this time, I found that it is so quiet without the aircraft buzzing overhead."

Read next: US grounds entire V-22 Osprey fleet following fatal Japan crash

  • United States
  • Japan
  • rally
  • Osprey aircraft

Most Read

A rescued crew member from the ETERNITY C vessel in a video released by the Yemeni Armed Forces on July 28, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemen Navy reveals fate of targeted Eternity C ship crew

  • Politics
  • 28 Jul 2025
An Israeli tank explodes following an ambush by al-Qassam Brigades in Gaza, Occupied Palestine, undated (Al-Qassam Military Media)

Al-Qassam strikes Israeli vehicles in Gaza, inflicts casualties

  • Politics
  • 30 Jul 2025
UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

UAE lodges complaint against Israeli ambassador over 'misbehavior'

  • Politics
  • 1 Aug 2025
Protesters chant anti-Israeli slogans as they carry a banner that reads:" Freedom for Palestine, Alliance stop the war," during a demonstration in support of Palestinians in Gaza, outside the Israeli embassy, in Athens, Monday, June 9, 2025 (AP)

Athens mayor slams Israeli ambassador over Gaza war, graffiti claim

  • Politics
  • 3 Aug 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
A member of the al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, takes part in a parade as he celebrates a ceasefire agreement between Hamas and the Israeli regime in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Sunday, January 19, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Al-Qassam: We’ll allow aid to Israeli captives if Gaza siege ends

Freed Lebanese freedom fighter Georges Abdallah during an interview on Al Mayadeen, which aired on Sunday, August 3, 2025 (Al Mayadeen screengrab)
Politics

Exclusive: Resistance key to building state, Georges Abdallah says

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres gives a statement about the situation in Gaza at UN headquarters, Friday, June 27, 2025 (AP)
Politics

UN warns Gaza faces water crisis, looming famine under Israeli siege

Israeli soldiers drive their armored personnel carrier along the Gaza Strip, in southern occupied Palestine, Wednesday, July 30, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Ex-Israeli general says Gaza starvation campaign isolated 'Israel'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS