The U.S. Air Force has announced that the wreckage and remains of five crew members aboard a military aircraft have been located off the coast of Japan. The Osprey aircraft crashed during a training exercise last week.
The discovery comes after the body of one victim was recovered and identified as Staff Sergeant Jacob Galliher of Pittsfield, Massachusetts on Saturday.
The remains of the five other crew members were found on Monday during a combined U.S.-Japanese search and rescue dive in the vicinity of Yakushima, Japan.
The Air Force has not yet released the names of the five other crew members.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
Statement from the Air Force
In a statement, the Air Force said:
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of our airmen. Our thoughts and prayers are with their families during this difficult time. We are grateful to the Japanese government and the Japan Self-Defense Force for their assistance in the search and recovery effort.”
The community in Pittsfield, Massachusetts is mourning the loss of Staff Sergeant Galliher. Galliher was a graduate of Pittsfield High School and was a member of the Air Force Reserve. “He was a great kid,” said one of Galliher’s friends. “He was always smiling and always had a positive attitude. He will be missed.”
The crash of the Osprey aircraft is a tragedy. The loss of six airmen is a devastating blow to the Air Force and to the families of the victims. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims during this difficult time.
The Osprey is a tiltrotor aircraft that can take off and land vertically. It is used by the Air Force for a variety of missions, including search and rescue, special operations, and logistics support.
The crash of the Osprey aircraft is the second major accident involving the aircraft this year. In April, an Osprey crashed in Norway, killing four Marines.
The Air Force is investigating the cause of both crashes.
