5 bodies found in the wreckage of a U.S. military aircraft that crashed off Japan

The Air Force has confirmed that a search team investigating the tragic crash of a U.S. military aircraft off the coast of Japan last week has discovered wreckage and located the remains of five missing crew members. The incident involved an Osprey CV-22B “tiltrotor” aircraft carrying eight crew members, which crashed near the island of Yakushima on November 29.

In a statement released just after 4 a.m. ET on Monday, the Air Force Special Operations Command revealed that a joint U.S.-Japanese team of divers had uncovered “remains” and wreckage from the crashed aircraft. An update at 6 a.m. ET confirmed the discovery of the fuselage of the Osprey and the recovery of five bodies. At that point, two bodies had been retrieved, and efforts were underway to recover the remaining crew members.

The identities of those found on Monday have not been disclosed, emphasizing the primary objective of bringing the Airmen home and supporting their families. The coalition of military, coast guard, law enforcement, mariners, and local volunteers is resolute in its commitment to locating and repatriating the U.S. service members involved in the incident.

Previously, the Japanese Coast Guard had reported recovering one person from the water, who was later confirmed dead. With the discovery of additional remains, two crew members remain unaccounted for. Staff Sgt. Jacob “Jake” Galliher, a 24-year-old father of two, was identified as the airman recovered last week.

The tragic crash occurred during a training exercise involving the CV-22B Osprey, a unique hybrid aircraft capable of vertical takeoff that tilts its rotors 90 degrees forward during flight. The incident has raised concerns, especially given the history of deadly accidents involving U.S. military Osprey aircraft, including previous incidents in Japan.

Japan expressed apprehension over the ongoing use of these aircraft, prompting the grounding of its own fleet of Ospreys. On Friday, the Pentagon announced the suspension of Osprey flights from the Yokota Air Base. However, U.S. Ospreys continue to operate in other regions despite the concerns raised by this latest incident. The incident underscores the broader challenges associated with ensuring the safety and reliability of military aircraft operations, especially in international contexts.