Five US Marines declared dead as search called off after mid-air collision with jet fighter

Two pilots of Hornet fighter jet found by rescue teams but one died

The US military has declared five missing Marines dead after their plane collided with a fighter jet in the sea off Japan.

Their KC-130 Hercules refuelling aircraft collided with an F/A-18 Hornet during an air-to-air refuelling exercise last Thursday.

A search was immediately launched for the five crew on board the Hercules and the two Hornet fighter pilots in waters around 320km (200 miles) off the Japanese coast.

The two pilots in the Hornet were found by search and rescue teams, but one died. The survivor was in a stable condition when rescued, the US Marines said.

However, US and Japanese ships and aircraft were unable to locate the crew of the Hercules, and the search was called off on Tuesday.

“We know this difficult decision was made after all resources were exhausted in the vigorous search for our Marines,” Lieutenant Colonel Mitchell Maury, commander of the US Marine Corps’ (USMC) Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron, said in a statement.

“Our thoughts are heavy and our prayers are with all family and friends of all five air crew.”

Both aircraft crews were based at Iwakuni air station near Hiroshima in Japan.

The US Marines said the identities of the five deceased crewmembers would be released after their next of kin had been notified.

A Japan Coast Guard patrol vessel and US Navy aeroplane conduct search and rescue operation at the area where two US Marine Corps aircraft have been involved in a mishap in the skies, off the coast of Kochi prefecture, Japan

(REUTERS)

It is the latest in a lengthening list of US military aviation accidents around the world in recent years.

The spate of incidents has prompted Congress to hold hearings to address concerns over the toll on personnel and equipment taken by continuous combat operations, deferred modernisation, lack of training, and ageing equipment.

Additional reporting by agencies