Subscribe

A buoy typically used for underwater surveillance fell from a Navy SH-60F Seahawk helicopter and crashed into a farm field Thursday, according to a Naval Air Facility Atsugi news release.

The sonar buoy landed in a field four miles southwest of the base , according to the release.

Atsugi base police and a Japanese liaison arrived at the scene in Miyayama and confirmed that the buoy belonged to a Seahawk from Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron 14.

The buoy’s impact created a hole in the ground but caused no injuries or property damage, according to base officials and local media reports.

Sonar buoys, which are about 3 feet long and 5 inches in diameter, can be deployed from the air and parachuted into the sea. Sensors can release the buoys to specified depths, where they are able to listen for submarine activity.

The Navy expressed its regrets and said the incident would be investigated, according to the news release.

Sign Up for Daily Headlines

Sign up to receive a daily email of today's top military news stories from Stars and Stripes and top news outlets from around the world.

Sign Up Now