Public-safety gaps blamed in Kadena helicopter demo that killed a teacher
An Air Force HH-60W rescue helicopter's rotor wash during a Kadena Elementary School demonstration killed a 60-year-old Japanese teacher. Investigators found spectators were allowed far too close to the landing zone due to misapplied normal flight rules, copied planning, and an “operational mindset” that ignored the Aerial Events regulation. The approved plan called for a 600-foot buffer, but attendees stood within 150 feet; an umbrella carried by the teacher was snagged in rotor wash, contributing to fatal head injuries. The root causes cited include mishandled approvals, inexperienced ground controllers, and a culture that underestimated public-safety rules at civilian events.