TOKYO - A Japanese court has ordered the government to pay compensation to residents living near the US Kadena Air Base in Okinawa over aircraft noise, Kyodo News reported on Monday.

In a ruling dated Jan 23 and made public on Monday, the Naha District Court's Okinawa branch ruled that the state must pay a total of 2.53 billion yen ($16.45 million) in damages to about 5,000 residents, citing the impact of noise from US military aircraft.

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The court dismissed the demand for flight restrictions, saying that US military flight operations constitute acts by a third party beyond the Japanese government's control.

Kadena Air Base is one of the largest US military installations in East Asia. It has long been a source of local complaints due to noise and other disruptions.