Military helicopter Osprey performs emergency landing at Iwate Airport in Japan due to unspecified issues.
Two U.S. Osprey Military Transport Aircraft Make Precautionary Landings in Northern Japan
On July 24, 2025, two U.S. Air Force CV-22 Ospreys made precautionary landings in northern Japan, causing no injuries or disruptions to civilian air traffic.
The first incident occurred at Hanamaki Airport in Iwate Prefecture, where a U.S. Osprey landed after a technical issue was detected during a flight from Misawa Air Base to Yokota Air Base. The crew had requested the landing in advance, and no injuries were reported [1][2][3][5].
Shortly after this incident, another U.S. Osprey landed without prior notice at Odate-Noshiro Airport in Kitaakita, Akita Prefecture, west of Iwate [2][4]. Details on the reason for this landing were not specified.
These incidents come amid ongoing safety concerns about the Osprey aircraft following a fatal crash in southern Japan in November 2023, which had led to a temporary grounding of all Ospreys worldwide by the U.S. military. Despite this, the Ospreys continue to operate in Japan due to their unique vertical takeoff and long-range capabilities [1][4].
The Jiji Press reported the U.S. Osprey's landing on July 24, but it was not confirmed by the Defense Ministry's Tohoku regional bureau [6]. The Iwate prefectural government was informed of the U.S. Osprey's landing at the airport office shortly beforehand [7].
References:
- The Asahi Shimbun
- The Japan Times
- Jiji Press
- Kyodo News
- Nikkei Asia
- Mainichi Shimbun
- Sankei Shimbun
The precautionary landing of a U.S. Osprey at Hanamaki Airport in Iwate Prefecture potentially raised questions in the industry about the safety of this transportation method, given recent historical events. Meanwhile, the second U.S. Osprey's landing at Odate-Noshiro Airport in Kitaakita, Akita Prefecture, might stir further finance-related discussions, as these unexpected incidents could have potential implications on insurance coverage for transportation mishaps.
