"We call on the US to take all necessary measures to strengthen the safety of its aerial vessels. It is crucial to avoid creating disturbance among the local population," the minister said at a press conference.
The incident with the US MQ-9 Reaper UAV occurred on Tuesday at the JSDF naval base of Kanoya. After landing, the drone rolled off the landing strip. No injuries were reported after the incident, but the base's command had to close the runway for three hours. There is no information concerning the reasons for the accident.
Eight US MQ-9 Reaper drones have been based at the Kanoya base in Kagoshima Prefecture on Kyushu Island since last November.