Nobeoka City in Miyazaki Prefecture, southwestern Japan, says it has received a number of reports that Osprey tilt-rotor transport aircraft flew at a low altitude over the city without notice.
City officials said they received a total of nine reports between July 22 and August 1. They said they had one complaint that a canopy tent set up on the rooftop of a facility was damaged.
A 70-year-old resident said he had seen Ospreys twice over the past 10 days, and that they flew at a low altitude near his house and were extremely loud.
Officials inquired to the Defense Ministry’s regional bureau of Kyushu through the prefecture about the matter.
They learned that Ospreys flew over the city of Futenma in Okinawa Prefecture during that period, and that those aircraft belong to US Marine Corps Futenma Air Station.
The city said it had not received such information in advance, and requested through the prefectural and central governments that the US military notify the city of flight routes beforehand and ensure their safety.