US Delayed Osprey Aircraft In Japan

US Osprey Military Aircraft Deployment In Okinawa May Be Delayed 

 

(RTTNews) - Deployment of the controversial U.S. Osprey military aircraft at an American airbase in Japan's Okinawa island is likely to be delayed in the context of increasing public concern over its safety.

This was indicated by Japanese Defense Minister Satoshi Morimoto on Wednesday while meeting with Yoshihiko Fukuda, the mayor of Iwakuni city in Yamaguchi prefecture where a dozen Ospreys are currently being held ahead of their deployment in the U.S. Marine Corps Futenma Air Station in Okinawa.
Operations of the Osprey transport aircraft at Futenma may not begin early next month as originally scheduled, Japanese media quoted Morimoto as saying.
Talks between Japan and the U.S. over the deployment may take another week or two, he said adding that the U.S. would begin transferring Ospreys to Okinawa after about two weeks of trial flights at Iwakuni. Ospreys may start operations in Okinawa sometime next month, but it is unlikely to be early in the month.

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