(ConservativeJournal.org) – The US Air Force announced on Monday, December 4, that wreckage and remains from the CV-22 Osprey, which crashed off Yakushima Island, Japan, last week, have been located. The recovery mission, in collaboration with Japanese authorities, has identified the remains of five crew members near Yakushima. Currently, two of them have been successfully recovered, and efforts are ongoing to retrieve the remaining crew members. The identities of those found are yet to be disclosed.
Out of the 8 crew members on board during the November 29 crash, the remains of Staff Sgt. Jacob “Jake” M. Galliher, 24, from Pittsfield, Massachusetts, were recovered on December 1. The status of the other seven crew members is “duty status-whereabouts unknown” (DUSTWUN). The recovery operation is prioritizing bringing the airmen home and supporting their families.
Surface ships and dive teams involved in the ongoing search and recovery efforts located the remains and the main fuselage of the aircraft. The crash occurred during a routine training mission, and the cause is under investigation.
The CV-22 Osprey has a history of mechanical and operational challenges, and it has been associated with several fatal incidents over the past 30 years. Just months before the recent crash, three US Marines lost their lives in an MV-22B Osprey during a military exercise in Australia. Japan, largely excluded from the investigation due to a military agreement with the US, expressed discontent over this rule and the US decision not to ground its Osprey fleet.
Pentagon Deputy Press Secretary Sabrina Singh stated that the US has initiated information sharing about the accident with Japanese partners. The communication channels between senior leaders remain open, facilitating continuous dialogue on aviation safety and related concerns.
Japan, as aforementioned, has raised many concerns about Osprey operations in their country. They indicate that if the issue is not identified with the aircraft that they should not be allowed to fly on Japanese soil as it poses a risk to their citizens as well.
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