In a recent court ruling, the Tokyo District Court dismissed a petition from residents seeking to overturn the government’s approval of low-altitude flight paths for Tokyo International Airport at Haneda. The petition, filed by 29 residents from Tokyo and Kawasaki, claimed that the routes, implemented in 2020, posed safety concerns and environmental issues.
Despite the residents’ concerns about falling objects, crashes, noise, and pollution, the court upheld the government’s decision. Presiding Judge Yukito Okada stated that the approval of the routes was not eligible for legal challenge, emphasizing that noise pollution was not a valid reason to dispute the routes.
The low-altitude routes, used during south wind conditions, involve aircraft flying over central Tokyo when landing at Haneda and over Kawasaki’s industrial area when departing. While residents may continue to voice their objections, the court’s decision affirms the government’s authority over flight path approvals.