Near Okinawan Island, cargo dropped by a U.S. Osprey was blown off course.

A prefectural government official said Tuesday that 400–450 kg of cargo dropped from a U.S. military Osprey aircraft was blown off course and ended up in waters close to a small island in southern Japan called Okinawa.

According to the official, who cited a Defense Ministry local bureau explanation, the 1.3-square-meter container was blown off course by an unexpected shift of wind on Thursday while the MV-22 transport plane was attempting to drop the cargo onto an airfield in Ie Island during a drill.

Despite searching the surrounding waters, U.S. forces were unable to locate the container.

The MV-22 is the variant of the tilt-rotor aircraft used by the Marine Corps.

In Tokyo, Defense Minister Gen Nakatani told a press conference that the incident is “truly regrettable,” saying that the government has urged the U.S. side to ensure safety and take preventive measures.

Okinawa Gov Denny Tamaki told a separate news conference that it was “just one step away from a serious accident and provokes concerns among residents,” urging the U.S. military to investigate the cause.