Two United States military warplanes on Thursday, crashed off the Pacific Ocean of Japan during a refueling operation, Japanese defence minister reported.
At the time, when aircrafts collided and crashed, US marines were conducting “regularly scheduled training”, in a statement, the 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force stated.
One of the seven crew member was found by rescuers in the stable condition and are on search operation for other six crew members.
The US Marine Corps said that at around 2 AM, two American aircrafts- F/A- 18 fighter jet and a KC-130 refueling aircraft crashed during a refueling operation off the Pacific Ocean in Iwakuni, in western Japan, near to Hiroshima.
Defence ministry reported the aircraft carrying in total seven crew members collided and crashed on Shikoku island, in southwestern Japan, into Muroto Cape’s south sea.
Japanese minster of defence Takeshi Iwaya said, “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.”
Ministry further said one of the seven crew member was found in a stable condition. Rescuers took him to a hospital and was then treated well at the base in Iwakuni. Though, no further information are being provided. It also reported the crew member who was rescued belonged to the fighter jet.
Japanese official reported two of the crew member were on-board with F/1-18 and other five were in the refueling aircraft KC-130. Chief of Japanese Self-Defence Forces Katsutoshi Kawano said, “We plan to keep at it all through the night.”
Mayor of Iwakuni, Yoshihiko Fukuda said, “I will urge the government and the US military to take thorough measures in finding out the cause of the accident and preventing a repeat.”