A U.S. Air Force report has detailed the death of a 60-year-old Japanese schoolteacher killed by strong winds from a U.S. military helicopter at a school inside Kadena Air Base in Okinawa. The incident occurred on April 22, 2025, when the teacher, standing just 26 meters from the helicopter, fell and hit her head on concrete, despite rules requiring a minimum distance of 150 meters. She succumbed to her injuries five days later.
On January 27, 2026, the U.S. Air Force released a report detailing an accident at an elementary school inside Kadena Air Base in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan. The incident took place around 9:30 a.m. on April 22, 2025, during an event where spectators were allowed to view a rescue helicopter up close.
The school serves children of U.S. troops stationed in Okinawa. A 60-year-old Japanese female teacher in the spectator area was knocked over by strong winds generated by the helicopter's landing, causing her to fall and strike her head on the concrete ground. She was rushed to a hospital but was pronounced dead five days later on April 27.
According to the report, the teacher was only about 26 meters from the helicopter at the time, although operational rules mandate a minimum distance of around 150 meters. U.S. military officials organizing the event were unaware of this requirement.
The report highlights the distance violation and wind impact as key factors, underscoring the need for preventive measures. In Japan, U.S. military bases have long been a point of contention, and such incidents risk heightening local distrust.
