Image Credit: Wolfram M. Stumpf, U.S. Air Force
In a tragic incident, a U.S. military Osprey aircraft crashed into the ocean near Japan's Yakushima island during a routine training mission. The crash claimed at least one crew member's life, with search operations ongoing for the remaining individuals. The U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command confirmed the crash, involving eight airmen on board.
Japan's coast guard deployed two helicopters and six boats for the search efforts. An emergency call from a fishing boat initially reported the crash. Contradictory figures on the number of occupants—initially stated as eight, later revised to six, and ultimately confirmed as eight by a U.S. defense official—added complexity to the unfolding situation.
NHK, the Japanese national broadcaster, shared helicopter footage revealing a coast guard vessel at the crash site, featuring a solitary bright orange inflatable life raft on the water. An eyewitness account indicated the aircraft's left engine was on fire before the crash, which occurred approximately 600 miles southwest of Tokyo, off Yakushima's east coast. The Kagoshima regional government noted that the crashed Osprey had been flying alongside another similar aircraft, which landed safely on Yakushima island.
