Japan seeking info on latest Osprey crash

Jiji Press

Japan has asked the United States to explain the cause of a crash in Morocco of a MV-22 Osprey aircraft, the same aircraft that will be deployed at a U.S. marine base in Okinawa Prefecture later this year, according to Defense Minister Naoki Tanaka.

Work has begun on confirming details of the crash and the aircraft’s safety with the United States, Tanaka said Thursday.

The Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft will be deployed in the autumn at the marine corps’ Futenma Air Station in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture. But the prefecture is opposed to the plan due to safety concerns following fatal crashes during the plane’s development phase.

Speaking at a press conference Thursday, Parliamentary Senior Vice Foreign Minister Tsuyoshi Yamaguchi said the United States will decide on the deployment but that the Japanese government will seek assurances that they are safe.