TOKYO, Jan. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Japanese government on Friday reasserted its claim that U.S. military helicopters had flown over an elementary school in Japan's southernmost prefecture of Okinawa.
The U.S. Marine Corps in Okinawa denied however that three of its helicopters flew over an elementary school close to the controversial Marine Corps Futenma Air Station, despite Japan's defense ministry releasing video footage to the contrary.
United States Forces, Japan had agreed with the defense ministry that aircraft from the Futenma base would avoid flying over schools following a window falling from one of its choppers and landing on the playground of the same elementary school where children were taking a sports class on Dec. 13 last year.
The footage released by the defense ministry on Thursday, which clearly shows the underbellies of three U.S. choppers as they flew over the school, was shot by newly installed cameras at the school and a nearby kindergarten.
According to Japan's public broadcaster NHK, Marine Corps officials said Friday that its pilots are avoiding flying above the school.
The Marine Corps said they have confirmed this through their radar equipment and through interviews with their pilots.
Japan's defense ministry is adamant that the footage and witness testimony confirms that the Marine Corps made the flights, leading to stern condemnation from the central government.
