Japan is continuing its search for the U.S. Osprey crew following a sea crash and has requested the temporary grounding of the planes from the United States.
The quest for seven members of the American military is ongoing in the waters off Japan on Thursday, with the aid of the U.S. Air Force.
A plane from the Osprey model crashed in the ocean.
A person was killed when an Osprey crashed near Yakushima island. The Japan Coast Guard is leading the search and rescue efforts, using side-scan sonar to search the ocean floor for the aircraft.
Japanese coast guard vessels and helicopters were being aided in the search by craft from the Japan Self-Defense Forces, the nation’s military. Several pieces of debris believed to be from the Osprey were recovered from the water Wednesday, in addition to a large, empty orange life raft.
A member of the United States defense team was confirmed to have passed away, as reported by a CBS News source on Wednesday. This follows a statement from a representative of Japan’s coast guard stating that a body was found in the water. Seven individuals are still unaccounted for.
Kyodo via REUTERS
The U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command released a statement on Wednesday stating that the Osprey was involved in a routine training mission when it crashed. However, they did not confirm the death of one of the crew members and stated that the cause of the accident and the condition of the crew are currently unknown.
On Thursday, Ambassador Rahm Emanuel posted a message on social media thanking the Japanese Coast Guard, Japanese Self-Defense Forces, and local community and fishermen for their help in searching for the crew.
“Our hearts go out to the members of the military and their loved ones. Our main priority is the continuing efforts to search and rescue, and we are keeping them in our prayers for a safe return,” stated Emanuel. He also emphasized the importance of supporting one another during challenging times as a true test of the strength of an alliance.
Eugene Hoshiko/AP
Apart from the United States, Japan is the sole nation to operate Osprey aircraft. The Japan Self-Defense Forces currently possess 11 of these American-made planes, with several more on the way.
On Thursday, the defense ministry announced that it will temporarily halt operations of its own fleet.
In recent years, there have been numerous fatal crashes involving U.S. Osprey aircraft, including a recent incident during a training exercise on an Australian island in August.
that resulted in the deaths of three American Marines
Eight people were hospitalized and five U.S. Marines were on board another Osprey that was involved in the incident.
Passed away during the summer of last year
The airplane they were flying in crashed in the desert of California.
The investigation by the U.S. military determined that the cause of the crash was linked to engine failure caused by “dual hard clutch engagement”. The U.S. Marine Corps and Navy have also experienced similar instances of clutch slips in their Ospreys and have taken steps to resolve the problem, as reported by The Associated Press.
In 2016, a US military aircraft, known as an Osprey, experienced a crash landing in shallow waters near the Japanese island of Okinawa. Fortunately, all the passengers on board, who were US Marines, survived the incident.
Despite experiencing crashes, the Osprey’s adaptability has proven it to be a reliable asset for the U.S. military, particularly for transporting troops. The aircraft is able to take off and land vertically like a helicopter, but can also adjust its rotors to fly as a turbo-prop plane.
Both the Japanese and American armed forces are expected to desire the ability to maintain usage in the crucial western Pacific region.
According to Japanese journalists, they witnessed several U.S. Ospreys departing from Okinawa on Thursday, where the largest U.S. military base in the area is located. This suggests that the U.S. has not yet complied with Japan’s request to halt the use of these aircraft.
Elizabeth Palmer
Source: cbsnews.com