The spot where a Marine Corps UH-1Y Venom helicopter conducted a precautionary landing near a baseball field in Nago city, Okinawa, is seen on March 9, 2026. (Ryan M. Breeden/Stars and Stripes)
The Marine Corps has rejected a request to meet with Okinawa government officials over a precautionary landing by a helicopter that disrupted a youth baseball practice last month.
Okinawa Prefectural Assembly representatives planned to hand-deliver a formal protest letter adopted March 27. It urges the U.S. military to disclose the cause of the incident, indicate measures to prevent a recurrence and ensure safety, according to a copy posted on Okinawa prefecture’s website.
The assembly asked for a Monday meeting through Marine Corps Installations Pacific’s G-7 Government and External Affairs office, a spokesman for the assembly’s Political Affairs Research Division said by phone Tuesday.
A UH-1Y Venom landed at about 8:20 p.m. March 6 in a grassy area about 50 feet from Kyoda Baseball Field in Nago due to an onboard warning during routine training, the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing said at the time. No injuries or property damage were reported, but a youth baseball team was practicing on the field.
“In this case, the aircrew executed the landing in accordance with established procedures and training,” Maj. Pawel Puczko, spokesman for the installations command, said by email Tuesday. “Because the landing was conducted properly and in line with standard operating procedures, it was not appropriate to accept the protest letter.”
The site is about 100 feet from homes, and because children were present, the landing “caused strong anxiety and fear among local residents,” the letter states.
It also asks the military to review aircraft maintenance and inspection requirements and calls for a revision of the status of forces agreement to prohibit flight training over residential areas.
Copies of the letter were mailed to U.S. Ambassador to Japan George Glass; the commander of U.S. Forces Japan, Air Force Lt. Gen. Stephen Jost; and U.S. Consul General Andrew Ou, the assembly spokesman said. The assembly is considering mailing the letter to Lt. Gen. Roger Turner, commander of the III Marine Expeditionary Force.
Some Japanese government officials must speak to the press only on condition of anonymity.
