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US-MILITARY-JAPAN-AVIATION-ACCIDENT
Six missing after two US military planes crash off Japan
TOKYO, Dec 6, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Rescue operations were underway Thursday
for six US marines missing after two American military aircraft crashed
during a refuelling operation off the coast of Japan, the Japanese defence
minister said.
One serviceman has already been rescued and is thought to be in a stable
condition, Takeshi Iwaya told reporters.
“US military and the Japanese Self-Defense planes and vessels are
searching for those still missing… I hope all the members will be rescued
safely as soon as possible,” Iwaya added.
The marines were conducting “regularly scheduled training” when the crash
occurred around 2am local time, the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force said in a
statement.
The F/A-18 fighter jet with two crew onboard and a KC-130 refuelling
tanker with five crew — crashed into the sea around 100 kilometres (60
miles) off the cape of Muroto in south-western Japan, Iwaya said.
The crew member rescued had been in the fighter jet, the minister
confirmed.
Japan’s Self-Defense Forces had deployed nine aircraft and three vessels
for the search, he said.
“We are thankful for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s efforts as
they immediately responded in the search and rescue operation,” the Marines
said.
A spokesman for the Japanese coastguard said six vessels and an aircraft
had been dispatched separately to assist in the rescue efforts.
There are few details about the circumstances of what the Marines
described as a “mishap” and an investigation is underway.
The US military has about 50,000 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
the 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.
Iwaya said the incident was “regretable but at this point we are doing our
utmost to rescue those still missing.”
“Later, if we get to know the details of the accident, we will take
appropriate measures,” added Iwaya.
He said that there was no information that any passing vessels were
affected by the crash.
BSS/AFP/FI/ 0832 hrs