TOKYO - Japan said on Friday it would allow Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft to continue to operate in the country, accepting US assurances that the flights are safe following a fatal crash off Australia.

The US Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey aircraft, which was based at an airbase in Japan, crashed Aug 5 while on exercises off the Australian coast, leaving three service members missing and presumed dead.

Itsunori Onodera, Japan's new defense minister, had asked the US to temporarily stop flying the aircraft in his country following the accident, the latest deadly incident involving Ospreys.