The United States military on Wednesday grounded its tilt-rotor MV-22 Osprey aircraft in Japan after Tokyo called for a halt to flights following a crash southwest of Okinawa island, the first accident involving the aircraft in the Asian nation.

The aircraft has become a lightning rod for opposition to the US military presence in Okinawa, with local groups seeking the closure of US military bases saying it is prone to crash and poses a danger to residents.

A US-operated Osprey ditched into the sea on Tuesday, injuring its crew of five after a hose connected to the aircraft broke during a refueling exercise.