The one Marine that has been recovered alive after a mishap involving a Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet and KC-130 Refueler some 200 miles off the coast of Japan on Thursday was released from the hospital today while the search continues for the 5-man crew of the KC-130. The other Marine flying aboard the Hornet, Captain Jahmar F. Resilard, 28, was pronounced dead shortly after he was recovered from the Pacific.
Search & rescue ops continue through the night for our five missing Marines. Massive effort involving @IIIMEF, @US7thFleet, @air_fifth and our #JSDF and Japan Coast Guard partners. Please keep these Marines in your thoughts and prayers as the search continues.
— U.S. Forces Japan (@USForcesJapan) December 8, 2018
Monday’s search has included assistance from a pair of UH-60 Black Hawks hailing from Japan’s Self Defense Forces, which joined
Air Force CV-22 Osprey, MC-130J, C-130J Super Hercules, RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft, KC-135 Stratotanker, RQ-4 Global Hawk, and a Navy P-8 Poseidon from America’s Pacific fleet, as well as at least one Australian P-8.
Thus far, the Defense Department has not commented on how long they intend to continue the search, though four days after the crash occurred, it’s seeming increasingly unlikely that any more Marines will be recovered alive.
My thoughts and prayers are with the @USMC crew members who were involved in a mid-air collision off the coast of Japan. Thank you to @USForcesJapan for their immediate response and rescue efforts. Whatever you need, we are here for you. @IIIMEF
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 6, 2018
The cause of the collision is still under investigation, but Marine Corps officials have confirmed that it occurred during nighttime refueling operations — widely considered to be among the most dangerous tasks military aviators regularly execute.