U.S. Marine Dead, 5 Missing Following Mid-Air Collision Off Japan

December 6, 2018 ,   Accidents

U.S.Marine Corps refueling airplane and fighter jet, carrying 7 U.S.Marines, collided and crashed into the Pacific off Japan's southwestern coast early Thursday, December 6. Rescuers found 2 of the crew involved, officials announced, but one died later after being pulled from the ocean. A search and rescue operation is continuing for the 5 others.

The U.S.Marine Corps said that the 2:00 a.m. crash involved F/A-18 fighter jet and KC-130 refueling plane during regular refueling training after taking off from their Iwakuni base, close to Hiroshima, western Japan.

Mid-Air Collision Off Japan

According to the U.S. military, the crash occurred 200 miles off the coast. However, Japanese officials said that it happened closer to land, around 60 miles out, and that is where Japan's search and rescue mission found 2 crew members.

There were 2 pilots in F/A-18 and 5 crew members in KC-130, officials revealed. One of the troops that was rescued from the Pacific was in fair condition, while the other was transported to local hospital for evaluation. The U.S. military confirmed that one of the Marines had died.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.