KADENA AIR BASE, Okinawa — An Air Force HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter returned safely to Kadena Air Base Friday afternoon after an emergency landing Tuesday had grounded it on an island 50 miles west of Okinawa.

The search-and-rescue helicopter returned from Kume Island around 3:45 p.m. after completing a hover check and an engine inspection, according to an Air Force spokeswoman.

The helicopter was forced to land on a dirt road along the north shore of Kume Island on Tuesday after multiple warning lights signaled a malfunction when the helicopter was 12 miles north of the island.

A faulty gearbox later was blamed for the malfunction, an Air Force spokeswoman said.

The crew of four airmen maintained control throughout the flight, the spokeswoman said.