Special Assault Team
Encyclopedia
The is a paramilitary
counter terrorism unit under the Japanese National Police Agency
. The SAT is mandated, along with the Anti-Firearms Squad and the Counter-NBC Terrorism Squad, for counterterrorism missions and incidents involving firearms or criminals which require an armed response beyond the capabilities of local law enforcement in Japan. Most information on the unit has been confidential, its existence officially revealed only in 1996.
Currently, SAT is officially known in Japanese as 特殊部隊 (Special Unit) and individual teams officially take the name of the Metropolitan or Prefectural police departments to which they are assigned; an example would be Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department Special Unit (警視庁特殊部隊, Keishicho Tokushu Butai) for the SAT assigned to the Tokyo Metropolitan Area.
The military counterpart of the SAT is the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force
's Japanese Special Forces Group.
. After its establishment, the unit had its first known incident on January 26, 1979 when the SAP's Osaka branch (then known as the"Zero Company") were deployed during a Mitsubishi Bank hostage incident in Osaka. In the incident, they shot dead Akiyoshi Umekawa
after he gunned down two employees and two policemen. It was the first shooting incident in Japan involving armed police officers. In 1992, the SAP was dispatched to Machida city to resolve an armed criminal incident. In 1995, SAP units were dispatched to Yamanashi Prefecture
, in order to serve a search warrant to one of Aum Shinrikyo
's hideouts, charged with suspicion of the Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway
.
On June 21, 1995, All Nippon Airways
Flight 857 was hijacked at the Hakodate Airport
in Hokkaido by a lone hijacker named . This incident marked the first time that the Japanese Air Self-Defense Forces
cooperated with the SAP by providing Kawasaki C-1
aircraft as means of transportation from Haneda Airport. The plane was stormed by SAP officers and the hijacker was arrested and subdued, with assistance from the Hokkaido Police's Riot Squad. The hijacking attempt marked the need for a specialized counter-terrorist team that would operate under the auspices of the National Police Agency
.
On April 1, 1996, the Special Assault Team (SAT) was established after a year's training with the GSG 9
, GIGN and the British SAS
.
in Peru, the SAT had simulated raids on retaking buildings similar to the Japanese Embassy as a possible counter-measure to a similar incident in Japanese soil.
In June 1997, the SAT was involved in its first anti-hijacking
case when it stormed a bus
and captured a hijacker alive.
On June 11, 1999, a lone man armed with a hunting rifle stormed the Keiyo Bank in Narashino, Chiba Prefecture
. The SAT's Chiba unit was deployed to resolve the incident, but the hostage
was released and the man was arrested by police through negotiations. The incident then forced Chiba Police to create the Attack Rescue Team, which would take responsibility for the SAT in low level criminal incidents. The unit has similar responsibilities to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police's SIT (Special Investigation Team) and the Osaka Police's MAAT (Martial Arts Attack Team).
The SAT became known in Japanese media again when its Fukuoka
branch took part in recapturing a hijacked bus
in Fukuoka in the Neomugicha incident
in 2000, capturing the lone hijacker alive. The hijacking event showcased the SAT's dedication to protect the public with their counter-terrorist skills in subduing felons such as criminals and terrorists with as little force as possible.
In September 2003, the SAT's Aichi unit was deployed to resolve a hostage incident. However, the hostage-taker committed suicide in an explosion which killed three and injured 41 others.
Recent moves by NPA
officials lead to an increase in manpower. In 2005, NPA officials increased the SAT's manpower from 200 to 250 operators. Another increase followed in 2006 when they increased the unit's manpower from 250 to 300 operators. The unit has also been featured recently in various Japanese TV documentaries.
In April 2007, the SAT's Tokyo branch had been involved in capturing , a known yakuza wanted for gunning down another gangster and attempting to wound/kill police officers when squad cars had arrived near his apartment. In May 2007 in another incident in Nagoya, an ex-yakuza gangster named was captured by SAT officers based from the Aichi Prefecture after he killed , an SAT operative with the rank of Sergeant. Posthumously promoted to Captain, he is the first SAT officer to be killed in the line of duty. His death has forced National Public Safety Commission Chairman Kensei Mizote
to issue a press report, stating that SAT gear will be checked to see if it was responsible for Hayashi's unfortunate death.
The SAT Support Staff (or the SSS) unit was created on May 2007 in the wake of the hostage taking in Aichi Prefecture.
Currently other branches exist in the prefectural Police departments of Hokkaidō, Chiba, Kanagawa, Aichi, Fukuoka and Okinawa. Nationwide SAT maintains about 300 personnel.
SAT operators conduct routine training in their own kill house
at certain prefectures in the Kantō region. The SAT has also conduct joint training with the Japanese Self-Defense Forces in order to maintain their state of readiness. For instance, SAT personnel have been tutored by the 1st Airborne Brigade on insertion techniques.
The Subduing section executes assaults and suspect apprehension. The Sniping section provides reconnaissance and precision fire. The Technical Support section operates and maintains communications and surveillance equipment leads the operation and the sniping group takes charge of sniping and reconnaissance. The technical support group is in charge of electronic equipment such as microphones and cameras. The command section is responsible for tactical planning.
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
counter terrorism unit under the Japanese National Police Agency
National Police Agency (Japan)
The is an agency administered by the National Public Safety Commission of the Cabinet Office in the cabinet of Japan, and is the central coordinating agency of the Japanese police system....
. The SAT is mandated, along with the Anti-Firearms Squad and the Counter-NBC Terrorism Squad, for counterterrorism missions and incidents involving firearms or criminals which require an armed response beyond the capabilities of local law enforcement in Japan. Most information on the unit has been confidential, its existence officially revealed only in 1996.
Currently, SAT is officially known in Japanese as 特殊部隊 (Special Unit) and individual teams officially take the name of the Metropolitan or Prefectural police departments to which they are assigned; an example would be Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department Special Unit (警視庁特殊部隊, Keishicho Tokushu Butai) for the SAT assigned to the Tokyo Metropolitan Area.
The military counterpart of the SAT is the Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
The , or JGSDF, is the army of Japan. The largest of the three services of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, the Ground Self-Defense Force operates under the command of the chief of the ground staff, based in the city of Ichigaya, Tokyo. The present chief of ground staff is General Yoshifumi Hibako...
's Japanese Special Forces Group.
Establishment of SAT
The origin of the Special Assault Team can be traced back to September 28, 1977 when Tōkyō and Ōsaka began to train Special Armed Police (SAP) units as an armed response to criminal incidents involving firearms, especially after the Dhaka IncidentJapan Airlines Flight 472
Japan Airlines Flight 472 was an aircraft hijacking carried out by the Japanese Red Army on September 28, 1977.-Incident:The Douglas DC-8, en route from Paris to Haneda Airport in Tokyo with 156 people on board, stopped in Mumbai, India...
. After its establishment, the unit had its first known incident on January 26, 1979 when the SAP's Osaka branch (then known as the"Zero Company") were deployed during a Mitsubishi Bank hostage incident in Osaka. In the incident, they shot dead Akiyoshi Umekawa
Akiyoshi Umekawa
was a Japanese mass murderer who killed a woman on December 16, 1963 and shot dead four people on January 26, 1979. Mass media also used a number of aliases, including Teruyoshi Umekawa, Terumi Umekawa, Akimi Umekawa and Akemi Umekawa. He was one of the rare criminals who was shot dead by Japanese...
after he gunned down two employees and two policemen. It was the first shooting incident in Japan involving armed police officers. In 1992, the SAP was dispatched to Machida city to resolve an armed criminal incident. In 1995, SAP units were dispatched to Yamanashi Prefecture
Yamanashi Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region of the island of Honshū. The capital is the city of Kōfu.-Pre-history to the 14th century:People have been living in the Yamanashi area for about 30,000 years...
, in order to serve a search warrant to one of Aum Shinrikyo
Aum Shinrikyo
Aum Shinrikyo was a Japanese new religious movement. The group was founded by Shoko Asahara in 1984. The group gained international notoriety in 1995, when it carried out the Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway....
's hideouts, charged with suspicion of the Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway
Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway
The Sarin attack on the Tokyo subway, usually referred to in the Japanese media as the , was an act of domestic terrorism perpetrated by members of Aum Shinrikyo on March 20, 1995....
.
On June 21, 1995, All Nippon Airways
All Nippon Airways
, also known as or ANA, is one of the largest airlines in Japan. It is headquartered at the Shiodome City Center in the Shiodome area in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. It operates services to 49 destinations in Japan and 35 international routes and employed over 14,000 employees as of May 2009...
Flight 857 was hijacked at the Hakodate Airport
Hakodate Airport
, is an airport located east of Hakodate Station in Hakodate, a city in Hokkaidō, Japan. It is operated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. It serves as the hub for airtransse.- History :...
in Hokkaido by a lone hijacker named . This incident marked the first time that the Japanese Air Self-Defense Forces
Japan Air Self-Defense Force
The , or JASDF, is the aviation branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces responsible for the defense of Japanese airspace and other aerospace operations. The JASDF carries out combat air patrols around Japan, while also maintaining an extensive network of ground and air early warning radar systems...
cooperated with the SAP by providing Kawasaki C-1
Kawasaki C-1
|-See also:-References:* Taylor, John W.R. . Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1976-77. London:Jane's Yearbooks, 1976, ISBN 0-354-00538-3....
aircraft as means of transportation from Haneda Airport. The plane was stormed by SAP officers and the hijacker was arrested and subdued, with assistance from the Hokkaido Police's Riot Squad. The hijacking attempt marked the need for a specialized counter-terrorist team that would operate under the auspices of the National Police Agency
National Police Agency (Japan)
The is an agency administered by the National Public Safety Commission of the Cabinet Office in the cabinet of Japan, and is the central coordinating agency of the Japanese police system....
.
On April 1, 1996, the Special Assault Team (SAT) was established after a year's training with the GSG 9
GSG 9
The GSG 9 der Bundespolizei , is the elite counter-terrorism and special operations unit of the German Federal Police.-History and name:...
, GIGN and the British SAS
Special Air Service
Special Air Service or SAS is a corps of the British Army constituted on 31 May 1950. They are part of the United Kingdom Special Forces and have served as a model for the special forces of many other countries all over the world...
.
Operational History
During the Japanese embassy hostage crisisJapanese embassy hostage crisis
The Japanese embassy hostage crisis began on 17 December 1996 in Lima, Peru, when 14 members of the Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement took hostage hundreds of high-level diplomats, government and military officials and business executives who were attending a party at the official residence of...
in Peru, the SAT had simulated raids on retaking buildings similar to the Japanese Embassy as a possible counter-measure to a similar incident in Japanese soil.
In June 1997, the SAT was involved in its first anti-hijacking
Carjacking
Carjacking is a form of hijacking, where the crime is of stealing a motor vehicle and so also armed assault when the vehicle is occupied. Historically, such as in the rash of semi-trailer truck hijackings during the 1960s, the general term hijacking was used for that type of vehicle abduction,...
case when it stormed a bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
and captured a hijacker alive.
On June 11, 1999, a lone man armed with a hunting rifle stormed the Keiyo Bank in Narashino, Chiba Prefecture
Chiba Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Kantō region and the Greater Tokyo Area. Its capital is Chiba City.- History :Chiba Prefecture was established on June 15, 1873 with the merger of Kisarazu Prefecture and Inba Prefecture...
. The SAT's Chiba unit was deployed to resolve the incident, but the hostage
Hostage
A hostage is a person or entity which is held by a captor. The original definition meant that this was handed over by one of two belligerent parties to the other or seized as security for the carrying out of an agreement, or as a preventive measure against certain acts of war...
was released and the man was arrested by police through negotiations. The incident then forced Chiba Police to create the Attack Rescue Team, which would take responsibility for the SAT in low level criminal incidents. The unit has similar responsibilities to the Tokyo Metropolitan Police's SIT (Special Investigation Team) and the Osaka Police's MAAT (Martial Arts Attack Team).
The SAT became known in Japanese media again when its Fukuoka
Fukuoka, Fukuoka
is the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture and is situated on the northern shore of the island of Kyushu in Japan.Voted number 14 in a 2010 poll of the World's Most Livable Cities, Fukuoka is praised for its green spaces in a metropolitan setting. It is the most populous city in Kyushu, followed by...
branch took part in recapturing a hijacked bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
in Fukuoka in the Neomugicha incident
Neomugicha incident
The is the name given to the 2000 hijacking of a Japanese bus by a user of internet forum 2channel after placing a warning on the website.An hour after posting a cryptic threat in a thread with the name "Neomugicha" , the 17-year-old youth hijacked a bus "the Wakakusu" in Dazaifu, Fukuoka, Japan,...
in 2000, capturing the lone hijacker alive. The hijacking event showcased the SAT's dedication to protect the public with their counter-terrorist skills in subduing felons such as criminals and terrorists with as little force as possible.
In September 2003, the SAT's Aichi unit was deployed to resolve a hostage incident. However, the hostage-taker committed suicide in an explosion which killed three and injured 41 others.
Recent moves by NPA
National Police Agency (Japan)
The is an agency administered by the National Public Safety Commission of the Cabinet Office in the cabinet of Japan, and is the central coordinating agency of the Japanese police system....
officials lead to an increase in manpower. In 2005, NPA officials increased the SAT's manpower from 200 to 250 operators. Another increase followed in 2006 when they increased the unit's manpower from 250 to 300 operators. The unit has also been featured recently in various Japanese TV documentaries.
In April 2007, the SAT's Tokyo branch had been involved in capturing , a known yakuza wanted for gunning down another gangster and attempting to wound/kill police officers when squad cars had arrived near his apartment. In May 2007 in another incident in Nagoya, an ex-yakuza gangster named was captured by SAT officers based from the Aichi Prefecture after he killed , an SAT operative with the rank of Sergeant. Posthumously promoted to Captain, he is the first SAT officer to be killed in the line of duty. His death has forced National Public Safety Commission Chairman Kensei Mizote
Kensei Mizote
is a Japanese politician of the Liberal Democratic Party, a member of the House of Councillors in the Diet . A native of Hiroshima, Hiroshima and graduate of the University of Tokyo, he became mayor of Mihara, Hiroshima in 1987 and was elected to the House of Councillors for the first time in...
to issue a press report, stating that SAT gear will be checked to see if it was responsible for Hayashi's unfortunate death.
The SAT Support Staff (or the SSS) unit was created on May 2007 in the wake of the hostage taking in Aichi Prefecture.
Locations
The Tokyo branch, formerly called "Special Operations Company" (特科中隊), is under 6th Mobile Unit, Security Department of Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department (警視庁警備部第六機動隊). In Osaka Prefecture, it was created under the 2nd Mobile Unit (第二機動隊) and was unofficially called the "Zero Company" (零中隊). Today, the official name of SAT in Japanese is simply "特殊部隊" or "Special Unit."Currently other branches exist in the prefectural Police departments of Hokkaidō, Chiba, Kanagawa, Aichi, Fukuoka and Okinawa. Nationwide SAT maintains about 300 personnel.
SAT operators conduct routine training in their own kill house
Kill house
Kill House is a live ammunition training facility used to train soldiers and police officers in the tactics necessary for urban combat. Kill houses are designed to mimic a varying range of structures such as suburban homes and factories to prepare soldiers and police officers for close range combat...
at certain prefectures in the Kantō region. The SAT has also conduct joint training with the Japanese Self-Defense Forces in order to maintain their state of readiness. For instance, SAT personnel have been tutored by the 1st Airborne Brigade on insertion techniques.
Structure
Each SAT division consists of a Command section, Subduing section, Sniping section, and Technical Support section.The Subduing section executes assaults and suspect apprehension. The Sniping section provides reconnaissance and precision fire. The Technical Support section operates and maintains communications and surveillance equipment leads the operation and the sniping group takes charge of sniping and reconnaissance. The technical support group is in charge of electronic equipment such as microphones and cameras. The command section is responsible for tactical planning.
Miscellaneous
- Upon recruitment to the SAT, the officer's name is deleted from the roster of active police officers; this is to protect them from being attacked by criminals, extremist and terrorist groups, and being subjected to legal proceedings.
- SAT operators have entered joint training with the FBI Special Weapons and Tactics TeamsFBI Special Weapons and Tactics TeamsFBI Special Weapons and Tactics Teams are specialized tactical teams of the Federal Bureau of Investigation . SWAT agents are specially trained to intervene in high-risk events like hostage and barricade situations. The FBI maintains SWAT teams at each of its 56 field offices throughout the...
on CQC tactics. 10 SAT officers were placed under training by Queensland Police's Specialist Service Branch in Queensland, Australia.
Assault Rifles
- M4 CarbineM4 CarbineThe M4 carbine is a family of firearms tracing its lineage back to earlier carbine versions of the M16, all based on the original AR-15 designed by Eugene Stoner and made by ArmaLite. It is a shorter and lighter variant of the M16A2 assault rifle, with 80% parts commonality.It is a gas-operated,...
(Used for CQCClose quarters battleClose quarters combat or close quarters battle is a type of fighting in which small units engage the enemy with personal weapons at very short range, potentially to the point of hand-to-hand combat or fighting with hand weapons such as swords or knives...
only) - Howa Type 89Howa Type 89The , referred to as the , is a Japanese assault rifle used by the Japan Self-Defense Forces, the Japan Coast Guard's Special Security Team units, and the Special Assault Team. It was never exported outside of Japan due to its strict anti-hardware export laws...
Submachine Guns
- Heckler & Koch MP5Heckler & Koch MP5The Heckler & Koch MP5 is a 9mm submachine gun of German design, developed in the 1960s by a team of engineers from the German small arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH of Oberndorf am Neckar....
: The following models are used by the SAT.- MP5A4
- MP5A5
- MP5SD4
- MP5SD6
- MP5-J
Shotguns
- Unknown, but known shotguns in possession include Mossberg and Remington-type shotguns
Sniper Rifles
- Heckler & Koch PSG1Heckler & Koch PSG1The PSG1 is a semi-automatic rifle designed by the German company Heckler & Koch of Oberndorf am Neckar.-Development:...
- Howa Type 64Howa Type 64The , is a Japanese battle rifle used exclusively by the Japan Self-Defense Forces and the Japanese Coast Guard. It is a gas-operated, selective fire weapon which is chambered for the 7.62x51mm NATO round and uses a detachable 20-round box magazine. The Type 64 was never exported outside of Japan...
Rifles modified for sniping use - Remington 700Remington 700The Model 700 series of firearms are bolt-action rifles manufactured by Remington Arms since 1962. All are based on the same centerfire bolt action. They often come with a 3, 4 or 5-round internal magazine depending on caliber, some of which have a floor-plate for quick-unloading, and some of which...
- Howa M1500Howa M1500The is a bolt-action centerfire rifle produced in Japan by Howa Machinery.-Description:The M1500 is a full-model change of the hunting rifles that Howa Machinery previously produced. The original blueprints were drawn up with reference to the Wetherby Mk. 5...
- Howa Golden Bear
Handguns/Revolvers
- Glock 19
- Heckler & Koch P9Heckler & Koch P9The HK P9 is a semi-automatic pistol from Heckler & Koch in 9 mm Parabellum and the first to use a variation of H&K's roller delayed blowback system in a pistol format and polygonal rifling now common in H&K designs. Designed in 1965 and produced between 1969 and 1978, only 485 of these pistols...
- Heckler & Koch USPHeckler & Koch USPThe USP is a semi-automatic pistol developed in Germany by Heckler & Koch GmbH of Oberndorf am Neckar as a replacement for the P7 series of handguns.-History:...
9 - Nambu Model 60Nambu Model 60The New Nambu M60 is a Smith & Wesson-style, double-action revolver, chambered in .38 Special. Approximately 133,400 have been produced since 1961....
- Sig Sauer P226SIG P226The SIG P226 is a full-sized, service-type pistol made by SIG Sauer. It is chambered for the 9×19mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, .357 SIG, and .22 Long Rifle. It is essentially the same basic design of the SIG P220, but developed to use higher capacity, staggered-column magazines in place of the...
- Sig Sauer P228SIG P226The SIG P226 is a full-sized, service-type pistol made by SIG Sauer. It is chambered for the 9×19mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, .357 SIG, and .22 Long Rifle. It is essentially the same basic design of the SIG P220, but developed to use higher capacity, staggered-column magazines in place of the...
- Smith and Wesson M3913 (Rumored to be in use by the Hokkaido SAT unit)
Additional Equipment
- Ballistic Helmet with faceshield
- Ballistic Shield
- FlashbangsStun grenadeA stun grenade, also known as a flash grenade or a flashbang, is a non-lethal weapon. The first devices like this were created in the 1960s at the order of the British Special Air Service as an incapacitant....
- Night Vision Goggles
- SAT Assault Vehicle with platform for sniping use
Ranks
The following leadership ranks are observed in the SAT:- Commander = Inspector -
- Team Captain = Assistant Inspector -
- Squad Leader = Sergeant -
Tokyo
- The SAT Tokyo unit is responsible for the Haneda Airport and other facilities such as the Imperial PalaceImperial PalaceImperial Palace may refer to:Institutions*Kaiserpfalz in the Holy Roman EmpirePlaces:*Forbidden City, Beijing, China*Tokyo Imperial Palace , Tokyo, Japan*Heijō Palace, Nara Japan*Heian Palace, Japan...
, the Prime Minister's residence or KanteiKanteiThe is the principal workplace of the Prime Minister of Japan.- About :Located at 2-3-1 Nagata-chō, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 100-8968, it is diagonally adjacent to the National Diet Building. The new residence went into service in April 2002 and replaced the former residence, built in 1929. The former...
and the National Diet BuildingDiet of JapanThe is Japan's bicameral legislature. It is composed of a lower house, called the House of Representatives, and an upper house, called the House of Councillors. Both houses of the Diet are directly elected under a parallel voting system. In addition to passing laws, the Diet is formally...
. The unit is also in charge of resolving situations involving any hostile act against foreign embassies.
Osaka
- The SAT Osaka unit takes charge of the Kansai AirportKansai International Airportis an international airport located on an artificial island in the middle of Osaka Bay, southwest of Ōsaka Station, located within three municipalities, including Izumisano , Sennan , and Tajiri , in Osaka Prefecture, Japan. The airport is off the Honshu shore. The airport serves as an...
and the Osaka AirportOsaka International Airportor Osaka-Itami International Airport is the primary domestic airport for the Kansai region of Japan, including the major cities of Osaka, Kyoto, and Kobe. It is classified as a first class airport....
.
Hokkaido
- Included in the SAT Hokkaido unit's AOR is the New Chitose AirportNew Chitose Airport, is an airport located south southeast of Chitose and Tomakomai, Hokkaidō, Japan, serving the Sapporo metropolitan area. By land area, it is the largest airport in Hokkaidō....
and the Hakodate AirportHakodate Airport, is an airport located east of Hakodate Station in Hakodate, a city in Hokkaidō, Japan. It is operated by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. It serves as the hub for airtransse.- History :...
Kanagawa
- Kanagawa's SAT unit takes charge of securing the US Navy's 7th FleetUnited States 7th FleetThe Seventh Fleet is the United States Navy's permanent forward projection force based in Yokosuka, Japan, with units positioned near Japan and South Korea. It is a component fleet force under the United States Pacific Fleet. At present, it is the largest of the forward-deployed U.S. fleets, with...
headquarters.
Fukuoka
- Security for the Fukuoka AirportFukuoka Airport, formerly known as Itazuke Air Base, is an international and domestic airport located east of Hakata Station in Fukuoka, Japan. It is officially designated a second class airport. It is operating at full capacity, and cannot be further expanded. Flights stop at 10 p.m...
and the various foreign consulates are left to the Fukuoka SAT unit.
Okinawa
- Various US Military installations, such as the Naha Military Port, and the Naha AirportNaha Airport-Incidents:* On December 1, 1994, Ramzi Yousef planted a bomb on Philippine Airlines Flight 434, with the intent of mass murder. The bomb exploded on the Boeing 747-283B en route from Cebu to Tokyo, killing one passenger...
are left to the responsibility of the Okinawa SAT unit. This was the latest SAT unit to be established on September 10, 2005.