U.S. attack helicopter makes emergency landing on Ikei

An advanced AH1Z attack helicopter based MCAS Futenma made an emergency landing on a farm road on Ikei Island in Yonashiro, Uruma City, Friday evening.

According to the Japanese Ministry of Defense Okinawa U.S. Military Base Division and Okinawa Police, neither of the two-member crew of the helicopter was injured, nor were there injuries for local residents or damage to property.

According to the representatives of Ministry of Defense, U.S. Base has explained that, “The helicopter experienced a transmission malfunction, and they decided to make an emergency landing as a precaution.”

The landing site is a farm road located in the middle of Ikei Island. The U.S. military and Okinawa Police restricted the entry to the site with a barrier tape.

According to the Okinawa U.S. Military Base Division, the helicopter had taken off from MCAS Futenma at 7 p.m. At 7:20pm a warning light went up, and the helicopter made the emergency landing shortly afterwards. No damage to the helicopter was visible.

The Marines sent a maintenance crew on the site on Saturday who were able to fix the problem and the helicopter took off and flew to MCAS Futenma.