13-Aug-2018 Source: HeliHub.com
Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera met with Saga Gov. Yoshinori Yamaguchi to discuss the planned deployment of V-22 aircraft. The deployment had been put on hold after a GSDF AH-64D attack helicopter crashed into a house in Saga Prefecture in February. The pilot and co-pilot were killed in the crash, while a girl was injured fleeing the house. The Defence Ministry plans to deploy 17 V-22s at the Saga Airport to help protect the outlying islands, reports The Mainichi. The government has said that they will inspect the ministry’s explanation.