US military officials confirmed on Sunday that the remains of the seventh crew member from an Osprey aircraft, which crashed off southern Japan during a training mission on November 29, 2023, have been recovered.
The Air Force CV-22 aircraft crashed just off Yakushima Island while en route to Okinawa.
Since the tragic incident, the recovery teams have located the bodies of six crew members, including five from the sunken wreckage.
Ongoing Recovery Efforts for CV-22 Crash Victims
The search and rescue efforts have been a combined operation involving the US Navy and divers from the 320th Special Tactics Squadron.
A statement from the US Air Force Special Operations Command, issued on December 10, 2023, detailed the ongoing recovery efforts.
It highlighted, “During a combined US-Japanese search and rescue in the vicinity of Yakushima, Japan, divers from the US Navy and divers from the 320th Special Tactics Squadron recovered the remains of one of two remaining Airmen from the CV-22 mishap.”
The identity of the recovered Airman is known but will not be released until the next of kin has been notified.
Efforts are still underway to locate and recover the remains of the eighth Airman, with a priority on bringing them home and supporting their families.
Some had reached out to the US Air Force Special Operations Command for further details on the identity of the recovered Airman but did not receive an immediate response.
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US Comprehensive Investigation into Tragic Crash Underway
In response to the tragic crash, the US military announced the grounding of all its Osprey CV-22 aircraft.
The decision to ground the entire fleet, announced by Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, head of Air Force Special Operations Command, is aimed at mitigating risks while a comprehensive investigation into the crash continues.
The preliminary investigation revealed that a material failure, not a mistake by the crew, was the cause of the devastating crash.
The temporary stand down of the Osprey CV-22 aircraft is intended to provide the necessary time and space for a thorough investigation, ensuring a safe return to operations.
The recovery and investigation processes remain ongoing, and the US military is committed to bringing closure to the families of the fallen crew members and understanding the circumstances surrounding the tragic incident.
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