Six missing after U.S. military aircraft collide off the coast ofJapan – AOL
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WASHINGTON/TOKYO, Dec 5 — Six U.S. Marines were missing following a still-unexplained mishap off the coast of Japan on Thursday involving two U.S. Marine Corps aircraft, which may have collided mid-air during a refueling exercise gone wrong, U.S. officials said.
Japan’s defense ministry said that its maritime forces had so far rescued one of the seven Marines who were aboard the two aircraft at the time of the incident. Search and rescue efforts were ongoing, U.S. and Japanese officials said.
The rescued person had been on the F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet, and was a in stable condition at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japanese Defense Minister Takeshi Iwaya told a news conference.
“The incident is regrettable, but our focus at the moment is on search and rescue,” he said. “Japan will respond appropriately once the details of the incident are uncovered.”
The Marine Corps said in a statement that the incident occurred around 2 a.m. local time in Japan on Thursday (1700 GMT Wednesday) about 200 miles (322 km) off the Japanese coast.
The Marine Corps band called ‘The Presidents Own’ was created in 1798. Here they are in 1893.
Photo Credit: US Marine Corps
The Marines pose for a photo in Egypt in 1907.
Photo Credit: US Marine Corps
Marines pose with a German trench mortar in 1918.
Photo Credit: US Marine Corps
Marines duing WWI circa 1918.
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Marines run a drill during combat training in Germany, 1918.
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Grumman FF-2, circa 1930
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Pearl Harbor survivor Technical Sergeant Anglin on December 8th 1941.
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Marines patiently wait to be called for ‘chow time’ 1943.
Photo Credit: U.S. Marine Corps
Marines admire a photo of a pin-up girl in 1943 while in Japan.
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James Wrobel, Designer of VMF-312 Insignia, circa 1943
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Marines arrive on the Japanese island Saipan. 1944 WWII
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Marines stationed in Bougainville.
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Marines wait for letters from home to be distributed.
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Pictured here : ‘Code Talkers’ 1943 were a group a Native American Marines would used their native language to relay coded messages.
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Marines fire a 155mm Howitzer Iwo Jima.
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A Navy Corpsman administers blood plasma to a Marine. 1944
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Marines are surrounded by bullet shells at the base of Mount Suribachi.
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Marines raise the American flag in Iwo Jima. 1945
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Marines celebrate the end of WWII. 1945
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Korean War 1950.
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Female Marines began training in Parris Island, South Carolina, 1949.
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Marines line up to receive items from home. Usually soda, candy and cigarettes.
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A welcome banner can be seen here in Vietnam welcoming the Marines in Danang in 1965.
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A Marine rests while he can in Vietnam. 1968.
Photo Credit: US Marine Corps
Moment of Peace: Corporal Larry G. Nabb (Brush, Colorado) finds a moment of peace in front of a gaily decorated Christmas tree at Quang Tri Combat Base. Nabb is serving as a truck driver with 3d Marine Division’s Headquarters Battalion, and is one of thousands of Marines celebrating their Christmas in Vietnam
Photo Credit: US Marine Corps
Private First Class Ronald Duplantis prepares a 122mm enemy field weapon for shipment.
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Marines carry supplies from a cargo plane to a nearby base. 1969.
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Marines register to vote for the 1969 presidential election.
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David Gurfein sits next to a Christmas tree in Saudi Arabia while serving during Operation Desert Shield/Storm.
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Marines prepare to enter Saddam Husseins palace in 2003.
The F/A-18 and the KC-130 Hercules refueling aircraft had launched from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni and were conducting regular training when there was a “mishap,” the Marine Corps said.
The Marine Corps did not elaborate on the nature of the incident. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said it occurred during a refueling exercise.
Officials who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity were unsure precisely how the mishap occurred but none suspected foul play. An investigation has begun.
The Marine Corps suggested Japanese search and rescue aircraft had taken the lead on the rescue mission.
“We are thankful for the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force’s efforts as they immediately responded in the search and rescue operation,” it said. (Reporting by Phil Stewart and Idrees Ali in Washington and Kaori Kaneko and Tim Kelly in Tokyo; Editing by Peter Cooney and Rosalba O’Brien)
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