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.
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.
