The US Navy stopped the search and rescue mission to find three sailors who went missing after their plane crashed into the Philippine Sea on Wednesday, a statement said.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with our lost shipmates and their families,” said Rear Adm. Marc Dalton, commander, Task Force 70. “As difficult as this is, we are thankful for the rapid and effective response that led to the rescue of eight of our shipmates, and I appreciate the professionalism and dedication shown by all who participated in the search efforts,” said the Navy statement, which was released Thursday.
The Navy is withholding the names of the three sailors pending next of kin notifications.
The sailors were aboard a C2-A Greyhound transport plane that crashed into the ocean southeast of Okinawa on Wednesday afternoon.
A total of 11 crew and passengers were headed to an aircraft carrier when the plane crashed into the Philippine Sea around 2:45 p.m. Japan Standard Time, the Navy said.
Eight people were rescued and are in good condition aboard the carrier, the USS Ronald Reagan, the Navy said.
Seven US Navy and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force ships, three helicopter squadrons and maritime patrol aircraft covered nearly 1,000 square nautical miles in the search.
The aircraft was carrying passengers and cargo from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in Japan to the carrier when the plane crashed about 500 nautical miles southeast of Okinawa, Japan.
A Navy public affairs officer told CNN the plane was on approach to the carrier, but didn’t know how far away it was from the ship.
The cause of the crash wasn’t immediately known, according to an initial statement from the US Navy 7th Fleet. “I have been informed from the US military that engine trouble may have caused (the crash),” Japanese Defense Minister Itsunori Onodera told reporters Wednesday.
Troubled year for Navy in Pacific
It’s been a difficult year for the Navy in the western North Pacific after a spate of incidents — most involving ships assigned to the East Asia-based US 7th fleet — that included the deaths of 17 sailors.
In August, Vice Adm. Joseph Aucoin was relieved of his dutyas the commander of 7th Fleet after a deadly collision between the destroyer USS John S. McCain and a merchant ship off Singapore that left 10 US sailors dead.
In June, the guided-missile destroyer USS Fitzgerald, also of the 7th Fleet, collided with a cargo ship off Japan, killing seven US sailors.
Those two fatal collisions were “avoidable” and “numerous failures occurred on the part of leadership,” a Navy report concluded earlier this month.
At least two other incidents involving US 7th Fleet ships happened in waters off East Asia this year.
On Saturday, a Japanese tugboat lost propulsion and drifted into the USS Benfold in a bay off central Japan, causing minor damage to the guided-missile destroyer, the Navy said.
In late January, the guided-missile cruiser USS Antietam ran aground in Tokyo Bay, damaging its propellers.
Another incident in East Asian waters involved a US 3rd Fleet ship: In May, the guided-missile cruiser USS Lake Champlain was struck by a South Korean fishing boatoff the Korean Peninsula.
The Navy has launched multiple investigations and reviews in the wake of this year’s accidents.
The C2-A that crashed Wednesday belongs to a Japan-based squadron that generally flies cargo and passengers between shore bases and the USS Ronald Reagan.
