US Parachute Mishap in Japan Sparks Protests After Debris Falls Near Kids’ Center

Japanese officials protested after parts of a US military parachute were discovered at a children’s activity center in Fussa, a city bordering Yokota Air Base in western Tokyo.

The incident involved two pieces of equipment that drifted off course during a November 20 US airdrop training exercise.

American defense officials said strong winds pushed the main parachute and pilot chute away from the drop zone after a paratrooper detached them mid-training.

The small pilot chute, used to pull out the main parachute, was found on the center’s roof in early December and retrieved by the North Kanto Defense Bureau, local Japanese media reported.

Meanwhile, the larger canopy landed on the center’s playground, approximately 100 meters (328 feet) from the Yokota base.

Tokyo said that American personnel collected it on the night of the November exercise without notifying the city, an action local officials later criticized as unauthorized entry.

In response, Fussa City, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government, and nearby municipalities expressed concern with US Forces Japan and the 374th Airlift Wing, the unit involved, over the recurrence of such incidents.

“Falling objects during parachute training could lead to a serious accident, which, if any step goes wrong, could result in loss of life,” a formal letter to the American parties stated, according to Stars and Stripes.

This event followed a similar occurrence two days earlier when another paratrooper landed outside the base in nearby Hamura City, prompting a temporary pause in jump training.

No injuries or property damage were reported in either incident, officials said.