Drone Sightings Disrupt Operations at Marine Corps Air Station in Japan

Military and civilian flights were temporarily suspended at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni following multiple drone sightings on Sunday evening, highlighting ongoing challenges with unauthorized drone operations near military installations. According to U.S. military and Japanese officials, the incident affected hundreds of passengers and triggered a security investigation Stars and Stripes reported.

The disruption began when the MCAS Iwakuni control tower detected drone activity near the Iwakuni Kintaikyo Airport, which shares runway facilities with U.S. Marine Corps, Navy, and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force operations. An All Nippon Airways flight scheduled to land at 6:50 p.m. was forced to enter a holding pattern before ultimately diverting to Hiroshima Airport due to fuel concerns. The incident affected approximately 250 passengers and caused delays exceeding two hours.

Base spokesman Maj. Gerard Farao emphasized that safety remains the primary concern at MCAS Iwakuni, explaining that the airfield closure was implemented as a precautionary measure while authorities investigated the situation. The incident falls under Japanese law, which prohibits unauthorized drone flights over defense facilities and carries penalties of up to one year imprisonment or fines up to $3,191.

This event follows a pattern of increasing drone incidents near military installations in Japan. In May, the U.S. Navy launched an investigation after overhead photos and videos of the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan at Yokosuka Naval Base appeared on social media platform X, raising serious security concerns.

The incident underscores the growing challenges military and civilian aviation authorities face in managing drone activity near sensitive installations. While drones have become valuable tools for first responders and commercial applications, unauthorized flights near airports and military facilities represent a significant safety risk and security concern.

Japanese Police are currently investigating whether drones were actually present during the reported sightings. Meanwhile, the increasing frequency of such incidents globally has led to enhanced focus on drone incident response protocols and the development of more sophisticated detection and countermeasure systems.

The timing of this incident coincides with similar reports in the United States, particularly in New Jersey, where multiple drone sightings have recently caused public concern. These parallel events highlight the international scope of the challenge facing aviation security authorities.

Featured photo shows the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Japan. Photo courtesy of Mainichi/Norio Oyama.