And yet another aviation mishap in Japan, this time it's the Air Force's turn...

via Sputnik.

An engine of a US F-16 fighter jet from the US Misawa air base in northern Japan caught fire, with pilot dumping the aircraft's fuel tanks into the lake, local media reported Tuesday, citing Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera.

After dumping the fuel tanks into the lake of Ogawara, the jet returned to the base, the Kyodo news agency reported, providing no information on possible victims.

Fishermen said the tanks fell 400 meters (0.2 miles) from one of the fishing vessels on the lake, according to the agency.

Story here. 

In the US this would be no big deal.  The Coast Guard and local environmental agency would work together to clean up whatever spill, and the military would send a team to recover the drop tanks.

In Japan?

They're gonna go batshit crazy.  I really don't understand it but they have a thing now for any military related aircraft incident...even when it's one of their own.

I'd love to understand their thinking but it's beyond me.