5 Marines missing off coast of Japan declared dead
Source: ABC News
5 Marines missing off coast of Japan declared dead
By LUIS MARTINEZ Dec 11, 2018, 12:52 AM ET
The five Marines missing off the coast of Japan for nearly a week following an aviation mishap have been declared dead by the U.S. Marine Corps.
The Marines were aboard a KC-130 refueling aircraft that may have been attempting to refuel in midair an F/A-18 fighter jet on Wednesday.
"The Marine Corps has pronounced the five remaining Marines involved in the F/A-18 and KC-130 aviation mishap deceased," according to a statement from the III Marine Expeditionary Force based in Japan. "The change in status comes at the conclusion of search and rescue operations."
"Every possible effort was made to recover our crew and I hope the families of these selfless Americans will find comfort in the incredible efforts made by US, Japanese, and Australian forces during the search," U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Eric Smith, commanding general, III Marine Expeditionary Force, said in the statement.
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