Federal authorities have confirmed that one of the eight men on board an aircraft that crashed off the coast of Japan last week is from Minnesota. Major Jeffrey Hoernemann, 32, from Andover, was among the airmen on the Osprey aircraft that crashed during a training mission on November 29. Hoernemann, an instructor pilot and officer in charge of training, was assigned to the 21st Special Operations Squadron, 353rd Special Operations Wing at Yokota Air Base in Japan.
So far, three airmen’s remains have been recovered, and three others have been found and are in the process of being recovered. The search is still ongoing for the remains of the remaining two airmen. The other service members on board were identified as Maj. Eric Spendlove, Maj. Luke Unrath, Capt. Terrell Brayman, Tech. Sgt. Zachary Lavoy, Staff Sgt. Jake Turnage, Staff Sgt. Jacob Galliger, and Senior Airman Brian Johnson.
The crash has raised concerns about the safety of the Osprey aircraft, which has experienced several accidents in the past. The hybrid aircraft, made in the United States, takes off and lands like a helicopter but can rotate its propellers forward and fly at high speeds like an airplane.
Following the crash, Japan suspended flights of its Osprey aircraft and requested the U.S. military to ground all Ospreys operating in Japan, except for those involved in the search operations. However, U.S. Ospreys continue to operate in Japan, despite Japan’s concerns.
This incident marks the second time in a month that a Minnesota service member has been killed. In November, Sgt. Cade M. Wolfe died in a crash involving an MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter in the Mediterranean Sea. Wolfe was one of five U.S. Army Special Operations aviation soldiers who lost their lives in that accident.
The crash off the coast of Japan has sparked renewed discussions about the safety of Ospreys and the need for increased precautions and measures to prevent such accidents in the future.
