Japan calls off search for US Marines missing after planes collided, five confirmed dead
- The five Marines are believed to have been on board a KC-130 tanker plane. Two Marines on the FA-18 fighter were rescued on the day of the incident but one has since died
The US military said on 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 100km 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 on Tuesday this had not been confirmed and that the circumstances were still under investigation.