NAHA, Japan —
Police arrested a 56-year-old local businessman Monday on suspicion of beaming laser-like rays at a U.S. military aircraft flying near a controversial U.S. base in Okinawa in July.
Katsuro Hiraoka, who runs a video-related company, was arrested on suspicion of beaming green rays three times at a helicopter carrying four Marines near the Marine Corps Air Station Futenma from a parking space at his nearby home from around 9 p.m. on July 1. He has admitted to the allegation, according to the police.
The Okinawa police said they received reports from U.S. forces between July last year and this July that their aircraft have been beamed at six times by what suspected lasers.
The police said they are investigating whether Hiraoka has been involved in other cases as well.
They have collected what they believe is a laser pointer in a house search Monday, they said.
The U.S. Marine Corps has expressed concern about the beams, with an official telling Kyodo News last week such flight-interfering activities “pose a threat to the safe operation” of aircraft at the Air Station Futenma.
While there have been no reports of injuries in relation to the beams, such strong lights could disable a pilot’s vision and lead to a crash, especially when pilots are using a night vision device, according to the Marines.
A total of 48 U.S. military aircraft, including 24 MV-22 Ospreys, are stationed at the Futenma base, located in a crowded area in Okinawa’s Ginowan city.
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