US military aircraft accident in Okinawa 3 years after the Ministry of Defense
Three years ago, there was an accident in which an American military attack aircraft and an aerial refueling aircraft contacted off the main island of Okinawa, and the US military reported to the Japanese side the results of an investigation by a pilot with an inexperienced pilot. At that time, the US military did not report the occurrence of the accident to the Japanese side, and the Ministry of Defense requested the US side to provide appropriate information.
According to the Ministry of Defense, in April 2016 three years ago, the US Army FA18 fighter attack aircraft and KC130 aerial refueling aircraft that had been conducting nighttime air refueling training off the main island of Okinawa came into contact with each other and made an emergency landing at Kadena Air Base. Did.
According to a report from the US side about the results of the accident, the pilot of the fighter attack aircraft that caused the accident had little experience of night flight wearing night-vision goggles, which was attributed to a maneuver error.
In addition, the training schedule was not sufficiently managed by the troops, and inadequate supervision of inexperienced pilots was also responsible for the accident.
The US military did not report the accident to the Japanese side at that time, and the Ministry of Defense has been aware of the accident for more than three years until it was mentioned in another accident investigation report in September. did not.
The Ministry of Defense called on the US side to provide appropriate information, saying, “It could have been a serious case affecting the safety of local residents.”