USFJ statement on overflight of Futenma Dai Ni Elementary School

YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan – United States Forces, Japan expressed regret today following a helicopter overflight of the Futenma Dai Ni Elementary School in Okinawa.

Although U.S. Forces voluntarily ceased flights over the school to the greatest extent possible, a U.S. helicopter inadvertently overflew the school at around 3:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 23, 2018. An investigation immediately began to determine the facts and circumstances surrounding the overflight in order to prevent such flights from occurring again in the future. USFJ is working closely with Japanese counterparts at all levels to transparently share information as soon as it becomes available.