Navy Bombers Score Hits on Freighter--by Mistake

TOKYO — U.S. military officials today acknowledged Navy warplanes conducting exercises near Okinawa accidentally dropped non-explosive practice bombs on a Malaysian freighter, severing the arm of a crewman and disabling the ship.

“The U.S. Navy deeply regrets the accident and is conducting a full investigation into the circumstances,” said a statement issued by the combined U.S. Forces-Japan command in Tokyo.

It was not clear how many of the bombs hit the vessel Monday night, but the statement said Navy officials boarded the ship and “determined that Mark-76 non-explosive practice bombs apparently dropped by a Navy FA-18 aircraft struck the ship.”

U.S. military officials said U.S. Navy FA-18 fighter-bombers were conducting night bombing exercises in the area at the time of the incident using the non-explosive practice bombs.

The statement said the injured seaman, a 38-year-old Filipino whose right arm was severed, will be transferred Thursday from a civilian hospital on Okinawa, 940 miles southwest of Tokyo, to the U.S. Naval Hospital there.

The 5,922-ton Pomex Saga, registered in Malaysia and carrying a crew of 21 Filipino seamen, reported being hit by a rocket while steaming off Okinawa in what it called an attack by unidentified aircraft, authorities said.

A Philippine government source said Manila would expect an apology, compensation and disciplinary action.

The Malaysian Embassy in Tokyo said it would wait for a full report from the U.S. Embassy before commenting on the matter, but added it will press for compensation for the damaged cargo ship.

Japanese maritime officials said the ship’s reported location at the time of the incident placed it 1.7 miles north of restricted waters reserved as a firing practice range for U.S. warplanes.