Air Force Special Operations Command has announced that the eight service members who were lost in the recent Osprey crash off the coast of Japan have been identified. The focus now is on recovering their bodies and the debris from the aircraft. One of the identified service members is U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jake M. Turnage, 25, from Kennesaw, Georgia. Turnage was a flight engineer assigned to the 21st Special Operations Squadron, 353rd Special Operations Wing, Yokota Air Base, Japan.
The Osprey, a CV-22B model, crashed during a training mission on November 29. The safety concerns surrounding Ospreys have been rekindled as they have experienced several crashes, including in Japan where they are used at U.S. and Japanese military bases.
You may also like to watch : Who Is Kamala Harris? Biography - Parents - Husband - Sister - Career - Indian - Jamaican Heritage
The Air Force announced on Monday that six of the eight crew members’ remains had been located, with three of them already recovered. Unfortunately, the two lost crew members are unlikely to have survived, and the search for their remains is ongoing.
Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, the head of Air Force Special Operations Command, expressed deep sorrow over the loss of these airmen and emphasized their honorable service to the nation. He stated that they will be remembered as giants who have shaped the country’s history.
The other crew members who were lost in the crash have also been identified. They include U.S. Air Force Maj. Jeffrey T. Hoernemann, Maj. Eric V. Spendlove, Maj. Luke A. Unrath, Capt. Terrell K. Brayman, Tech. Sgt. Zachary E. Lavoy, Senior Airman Brian K. Johnson, and Staff Sgt. Jacob “Jake” M. Galliher.
Japan has temporarily suspended all flights of its own Osprey fleet and has requested the U.S. military to resume flights only after ensuring their safety. However, the U.S. military stated that no formal request has been made, and they continue to fly 24 MV-22s on Okinawa.
You may also like to watch: Is US-NATO Prepared For A Potential Nuclear War With Russia - China And North Korea?
Pieces of wreckage collected by Japan’s coast guard and local fishing boats have been handed over to the U.S. military for examination. Japan’s military has also announced that they will hand over the debris they have collected.
The investigation into the cause of the crash and efforts to recover all the bodies and debris are ongoing.
