There were no immediate reports of injuries from the landing in Uruma, a local fire department official said. Footage aired by public broadcaster NHK showed the UH-1 helicopter, which appeared intact, surrounded by US servicemen and Japanese police on the sandy beach. Last month, a window from a US military helicopter fell onto a school sports ground near the Futenma marine air base in Okinawa, but no one was injured. The incident also comes just two months after an American military chopper burst into flames after landing in an empty field on the island. Such accidents have sparked opposition to the US bases on the strategic island, which would serve as a launchpad for any American military activity in Asia.

Source: The Guardian January 06, 2018 11:03 UTC