On the 13th, four years after the accident that the window of a large helicopter at the U.S. military Futenma base fell at an elementary school in Ginowan City, Okinawa Prefecture, a school-wide rally was held at the school, and children were able to see military aircraft in the immediate vicinity of the school. I thought about the current situation of flying.

Four years ago, on December 13, a window weighing about 8 kg fell from a large US military helicopter on the ground of Futenma Daini Elementary School in Ginowan City.

On the 13th, four years after the accident, a school-wide rally was held at the school, and about 600 children participated.



At the rally, a video summarizing the accident was played, and it was introduced that the ground was unavailable for several months and that evacuation drills were held assuming falling objects after the accident.



Principal Katsuji Chiken said, "Don't forget about the accident, think about what to do in this area, and create a bright future."

According to the school, when a military aircraft flies in the immediate vicinity of the school, children on the ground are fleeing to evacuation shelters and schools installed after the accident.

After the rally, Principal Chinen said, "I want the children to think that this situation is not the norm. I want them to be able to think about how to deal with the base."



In Okinawa Prefecture, there are many accidents related to military aircraft, such as a stainless steel water bottle falling from a transport aircraft that took off from Futenma base on the premises of a house in Ginowan City last month.

Accidents related to endless military aircraft

Even after the accident in which a window fell from a large helicopter at Futenma base to an elementary school four years ago, there are no end to accidents related to military aircraft.



In June, a rubber protective sheet attached to a propeller fell from a large helicopter belonging to Futenma base on the tennis court of a junior high school in Urasoe city, and in August, it belonged to Futenma base. The window of a large helicopter fell to the sea east of the main island of Okinawa.



In addition, helicopters belonging to Futenma base crash landed on Tsuken Island in Uruma City and Miyazaki Prefecture one after another, and in August, a panel weighing 1.8 kg fell from a transport aircraft belonging to Futenma Base. ..



In addition, a stainless steel water bottle fell from a transport plane that took off from Futenma base on the premises of a house in Ginowan City last month.



On the other hand, after the accident, the number of takeoffs and landings of military aircraft has increased at Futenma base, four years ago in 2017 was 13,581 times, 2018 was 16,332 times, and 2019 was 16,848 times. , The second year of Reiwa is 18,970 times.



By the end of September, the number of accidents was 14,210, which is higher than the number of accidents in 2017.

Voices of anxiety from parents

Parents who send their children to Futenma Daini Elementary School are raising concerns.



Chiemi Yonashiro (48), who sends her eldest daughter to Futenma Daini Elementary School, was born and raised in the area adjacent to Futenma Base, and attended Futenma Daini Elementary School herself.



The eldest daughter of the first grader attended a nursery school near Futenma base four years ago, but on December 7, six days before the window fall accident, a U.S. military helicopter was on the roof of the garden. The part was found.



The U.S. military says that it did not fall from a military aircraft, but it is said that Yonashiro's way of thinking about the U.S. military base changed due to this event and the subsequent window fall accident.



Mr. Yonashiro said, "It was natural to have a base until then, but the values ​​changed as if the magic had melted. I realized that we lived in such a scary place." Was there.



Furthermore, it is said that he was greatly shocked by the accident in which a stainless steel water bottle fell from a transport aircraft immediately after taking off from Futenma base last month.



Mr. Yonashiro said, "At least I want to let people go to school safely. The water bottle fall accident was very shocking, and I'm very worried that nothing will change even after four years."