{"id":19415,"date":"2017-12-18T19:43:52","date_gmt":"2017-12-18T19:43:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/uncategorized\/2017\/12\/18\/marines-human-error-caused-helicopter-window-to-fall-on-japanese-school\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T20:35:53","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T20:35:53","slug":"marines-human-error-caused-helicopter-window-to-fall-on-japanese-school","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/marinecorpstimes\/news\/your-marine-corps\/2017\/12\/18\/marines-human-error-caused-helicopter-window-to-fall-on-japanese-school\/","title":{"rendered":"Marine helicopter window snafu caused by human error"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Human error \u2014 not mechanical problems with the Marine Corps\u2019 fleet of aging helicopters \u2014 caused a CH-53E Super Stallion\u2019s window to fall off midflight and land in the sports field of an Okinawa elementary school.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The window, which is designed to be removed in emergencies, was not properly secured before the helicopter took off, 1st Marine Air Wing said in a statement Wednesday. Since the Dec. 13 incident, aircrews and maintainers have been thoroughly retrained on the procedures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll CH-53E aircraft have been thoroughly inspected, to include ensuring there are no mechanical or structural problems associated with the windows,\u201d the statement says. \u201c1st MAW will continue to inspect and conduct comprehensive maintenance on all of our aircraft in order to conduct safe flight operations. Additionally, we have conducted a review with maintenance crews of proper maintenance procedures and commander-driven briefs to all air crew on proper flight safety procedures.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The wing called the episode \u201cregrettable\u201d and apologies for causing anxiety in the local community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Meanwhile, the wing has determined that an object that fell onto the roof of a Japanese nursery school on Dec. 7 did not come from a Marine Corps aircraft, despite media reports that the object fell from a CH-53.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The object was a cover for an In-Flight Blade Inspection System, which warns pilot inflight about blade failures on Marine CH-53E and Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon helicopters, officials said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAll of the IBIS covers on the 1st MAW aircraft operating around Midorigaoka Nursery School the morning of Dec. 7 have been accounted for,\u201d said 1st Lt. Karoline Foote, a spokeswoman for the wing. \u201cWe have no further information on this object or the object\u2019s origin.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In October, a Marine CH-53E helicopter made an emergency landing outside Okinawa\u2019s Northern Training area after catching fire midflight. The commander of III Marine Expeditionary Force suspended all CH-53 flights for six days following the incident.<\/p>\n\n\n\t