(RepublicanReport.org) – Tragedy struck on the southern coast of Japan with the crash of a US military Osprey, leaving one crew member dead and seven others missing. The craft was in the midst of conducting routine training when it went down. There haven’t been any signs of the others on board, but the discovery of an abandoned inflatable raft could offer hope that at least some survivors remain.
Air and Space Forces shared that the Air Force Special Operations Command, alongside Japanese officials, reported the crash. It stated that a CV-22 Osprey had been stationed at the 353rd Special Operations Wing at Yokota Air Base. It was set to travel to Kadena Air Base on Okinawa when an undisclosed issue arose. The craft went down off the coast of Yakushima at roughly 2:50 p.m. While Japanese media reports assert that there is one confirmed death, US officials haven’t given an official statement confirming or rejecting the claim. The coast guard planned to search for survivors throughout the night.
Newsmax reports that, according to Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, the aircraft fell off the radar about five minutes after the crew requested clearance for an emergency landing. Coast guard officials received the call about the crash only minutes later. A local resident reportedly saw the Osprey flying upside down with one of its engines on fire shortly before an explosion sent the vehicle falling. The pilot, who reportedly was with the US military, attempted an emergency landing on the water, but they weren’t able to avoid a crash.
Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida sought answers from US officials, but they wouldn’t disclose whether the accident would lead to the suspension of other Osprey vehicles in the country. The United States grounded some of its CV-22s in February, after the discovery of a faulty clutch system that engaged a fail-safe feature while the engine was still properly running. The problem caused dangerous spikes in engine torque, which was difficult to safely correct.
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