US Military Declares Five Missing Marines Dead After Japan Crash
Fakhir Rizvi Published December 11, 2018 | 02:16 PM
The US military said Tuesday it had pronounced five missing Marines dead and was ending search operations nearly a week after two US military aircraft crashed off Japan.
Tokyo, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 11th Dec, 2018 ) :The US military said Tuesday it had pronounced five missing Marines dead and was ending search operations nearly a week after two US military aircraft crashed off Japan.
The announcement brings the final toll in the December 6 crash to six, with a seventh crew member rescued after the deadly incident.
The crash involving an F/A-18 fighter jet with two crew onboard and a KC-130 refuelling tanker with five crew occurred in the early morning around 100 kilometres off the cape of Muroto in southwestern Japan.
It prompted a massive search and rescue operation, which the US military said had now been called off.
"Every possible effort was made to recover our crew and I hope the families of these selfless Americans will find comfort in the incredible efforts made by US, Japanese, and Australian forces during the search," said US Marine Corps Lieutenant General Eric Smith, commanding general of the III Marine Expeditionary Force.
The accident was initially reported to have happened during a refuelling operation, but the military said Tuesday this had not been confirmed and that the circumstances were still under investigation.
There are around 50,000 US troops stationed in Japan and accidents are not uncommon.
In November, a US navy fighter jet crashed into the sea off Japan's southern island of Okinawa and its two crew members were rescued alive.
And in November 2017, a C-2A "Greyhound" aircraft with 11 people on board went down in the Philippine Sea -- eight were rescued and the search was called off for the remaining three after a two-day search.
The US military has also experienced difficulties with its Osprey helicopters, with several emergency landings, a deadly crash and a piece of a chopper falling on the grounds of a Japanese school.
Those incidents have stoked tensions between close military allies Washington and Tokyo and led to protests against the deployment of Ospreys by residents living near US bases.
Recent Stories
Rock-solid Ruud racks up season-leading win in Barcelona
At UN, Iran says it will make Israel 'regret' reprisals
G7 hears calls for 'critical' Ukraine aid
EU seeks to leverage might to confront China, US challenge
5 Customs officials martyred as their vehicle ambushed by terrorists in D I Khan
Pak-New Zealand match called off due to rain
NHA restores traffic on roads affected by recent rains in Balochistan
China to fully support Pakistan's efforts against terrorism: Ambassador Jiang
U.S. envoy calls on Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar
Poland arrests man over suspected plan to kill Zelensky
EU wants to ease youth movement to and from UK
Police foils attempt of supply mainpuri raw material
More Stories From World
-
At G7, Blinken seeks European support for pressure on China
4 hours ago -
Thousands of Bosnian Serbs rally against UN resolution on Srebrenica
4 hours ago -
Israel assault has turned Gaza into 'humanitarian hellscape': UN
4 hours ago -
Husband of ex-Scottish leader charged over alleged embezzlement: police
4 hours ago -
Ecuador hit by power cuts of up to 13 hours amid drought
5 hours ago -
Hugs or bullets? How Mexico presidential rivals aim to curb violence
5 hours ago
-
Kenya military chopper crash kills defence chief, senior officers
5 hours ago -
Biden hails 'incredible' Kennedy family backing against RFK Jr.
6 hours ago -
Maldives court frees jailed ex-president ahead of vote
6 hours ago -
Probe into Portugal ex-PM Costa appears to collapse
6 hours ago -
Jury selection stalls in Trump criminal trial
6 hours ago -
At UN, Iran says it will make Israel 'regret' reprisals
6 hours ago