U.S. Marine Corps and Japanese officials gather on Camp Foster to conduct a joint table-top exercise to practice response to a potential off-base military aircraft accident. (Chiyomi Sumida / S&S)
CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — Japanese and U.S. Marine Corps officials conducted a table-top exercise Friday that involved responding to a Marine aircraft accident in the Okinawa community.
The exercise on Camp Foster was intended to “deepen U.S.-Japan mutual understanding” and to review procedures for reacting to such emergencies, according to a III Marine Expeditionary Force press release.
Mitsuho Kayashima, the Japanese government’s director for crisis management on Okinawa, said the exercise was important in maintaining close coordination between the U.S. military and local agencies.
Kayashima’s cabinet post was created in 2004 after a crash in August that year of a helicopter from Marine Corps Air Station Futenma on the grounds of adjacent Okinawa International University.
Following the crash, local officials and area residents said Marines initially barred police and firefighters from conducting their own on-site investigations.
After six months of talks, U.S. and Japanese officials agreed that in future cases Japanese authorities would control the outer perimeter of crash sites and the U.S. military and Japanese agencies would jointly control access and the inner periphery.
“The guidelines regarding off-base U.S. military aircraft accidents in Japan stresses that it is necessary for all affected agencies to understand the relevant rules and roles,” Kayashima said prior to the exercise. “Mutual close liaison and coordination is essential.”
Marine Col. Donald C. Wayman, assistant chief of staff for operations and training, Marine Corps Bases Japan, said the exercise was “not unusual or out of the ordinary and is no reflection on the safety of our aircraft or bases.”
“Having a firm understanding in place on access control, firefighting and notification procedures will reduce confusion between our communities in the unlikely event of an aircraft mishap off base,” he said.
No charges advised for 2004 crash
The criminal investigation by Okinawa prefectural police into the Aug. 13, 2004, Marine helicopter crash wrapped up in May with no recommendation for charging any Marines involved with criminal negligence resulting in property damage.
No civilians were injured in the crash on the Okinawa International University grounds, although considerable damage was done to university property and the neighboring civilian neighborhood. Only the helicopters’ three crewmembers were injured.
The crash was attributed to a failure to install a cotter pin in the tail rotor during routine maintenance of the aircraft.
The helicopter’s rotor blades sliced into a wall of the school’s administration building and the structure was heavily damaged by fire. It was razed and replaced by a new $7 million building.
The statute of limitation for charges to be filed against anyone involved in the crash expires Aug. 13.
