TOKYO (Xinhua): A Japanese court has ordered the government to pay compensation to residents living near the United States (US) Kadena Air Base in Okinawa over aircraft noise,citing a Kyodo News report on Monday.
In a ruling dated Jan 23 and made public on Monday, the Okinawa branch of the Naha District Court ordered the state to pay a total of 2.53 billion yen (about US$16.45 million) in damages to around 5,000 residents over noise from US military aircraft.
The court rejected the request for flight restrictions, ruling that US military flight operations are acts by a third party beyond the Japanese government’s control.
Kadena Air Base, one of the largest US military installations in East Asia, has long been a source of local complaints over noise and other disruptions. - Bernama-Xinhua
