National Desk – A search and rescue operation for five missing U.S. Marines is underway near Japan.
Officials said that a refueling plane and a fighter, carrying seven U.S. Marines in total, collided and crashed into the Pacific Ocean early Thursday morning at around 2:00 a.m.
Crews are continuing to search for the Marines about 200 miles off of the coast of Japan.
The aircraft involved in the mishap, a KC-130 and an F/A-18, had launched from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni and were conducting regularly scheduled training when the mishap occurred.
Officials confirmed that both of the Marines from the F/A-18 were recovered. One of them is being evaluated by medical authorities at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni. Officials later confirmed that the other Marine had died.
Japanese search and rescue aircraft immediately responded to aid in recovery, according to officials.
The circumstances of the mishap are currently under investigation.