A U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle assigned to the 67th Fighter Squadron takes off at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Aug. 24, 2024. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Edward Yankus) ...

The U.S. Air Force said in a statement that the explosion occurred at the facility managed by the Okinawa prefectural government at Kadena Air Base’s munitions storage area.

U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Catherine Daniel Four members of Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force were injured after a munition exploded on Kadena Air Base on Monday.

An F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 355th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, taxis at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, May 6, 2025. (Amy Kelley/U.S. Air Force) ...

The Kadena elephant walk is among the largest ever by the US Air Force, outnumbering an elephant walk in 2020 at Hill Air Force Base in Utah that only featured F-35A Lightning II aircraft.