Japan's government has asked the United States for a thorough probe into the crash of a US military helicopter on Okinawa.

 

　　The HH-60 rescue helicopter was on an unspecified training mission when it crashed at Camp Hansen.

 

　　Three of the helicopter's four crew members ejected safely from the aircraft.

 

　　However, it's believed the 4th crew member perished in the crash, as yet-to-be-identified human remains have been found at the site.

 

　　Itsunori Onodera is Japan's Defense Minister.

 

　　"The US side should first thoroughly investigate the cause of the accident, and make sure this is prevented from happening again. That should come first. After this, the HH60 aircraft, the same type of aircraft, may be put into operation. This is the normal protocol for us when similar incidents happen, and so I believe the US side will also be making similar efforts themselves."

 

　　The crash comes amid intense local opposition to the US additional deployment of 12 transport aircraft on Okinawa.

 

　　Dozens of opponents of the US presence on Okinawa gathered this Tuesday outside the Futenma base.

 

　　"Couldn't they have known (how dangerous it is) without it having to crash?"

 

　　"Just because the US bases are here, the Okinawan people need to bear such great pain."

 

　　Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary has formally asked Washington to postpone the deployment of the new aircraft.

 

　　Currently about half of the 50-thousand US troops in Japan are based on Okinawa.

 

　　Locals have long-complained about the behavior of US soldiers at the base, which has prompted strict US military restrictions on the movement of US troops on Okinawa.