The Yamaguchi District Court on Thursday ordered the state to pay noise pollution damages to residents around a U.S. air base in Yamaguchi Prefecture but rejected calls to suspend joint flights.

The decision by the court's Iwakuni branch was the first noise ruling concerning Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, which is jointly used by the U.S. military and the Self-Defense Forces.

A total of 654 residents filed the suit in 2009, demanding roughly ¥1.8 billion ($15 million) in compensation for past noise as well as the suspension of some flights.