NAHA –
Information on the death of a Japanese schoolteacher within a U.S. military base in Okinawa Prefecture in April of last year has been detailed in a recent U.S. Air Force report on the case.
According to the report, the woman was killed after being struck by the flow of air generated by a U.S. military helicopter.
The incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. on April 22 last year, during an event at a school in the Kadena Air Base.
As part of the event, spectators were allowed to view a rescue helicopter. The school serves children of U.S. troops stationed in Okinawa.
The helicopter caused a strong flow of air during its landing on the premises of the school, causing the 60-year-old female teacher, who was in a spectator area, to fall and hit her head on the concrete ground. She was taken to the hospital and confirmed dead five days later.
The teacher was only about 26 meters from the helicopter when the incident occurred, although operational rules require a distance of at least about 150 meters.
U.S. military officials organizing the event were unaware of this requirement, according to the report.
AloJapan.com