Yomiuri reported on surging opposition among residents and some officials in Saga to the proposed deployment of GSDF Ospreys at Saga Airport following Monday’s fatal crash of a GSDF helicopter into a home in Kanzaki, quoting an unnamed senior Defense Ministry official as acknowledging that it has now become even more difficult to move forward with the plan. While emphasizing the importance of the deployment for the defense of remote islands in and around Okinawa, Defense Minister Onodera said the top priority for the time being will be to determine the cause of the accident.