Reports: C-130 And F/A-18 Involved In A Mishap During Aerial Refueling Off Iwakuni, Japan. Seven Missing.

Published on: December 5, 2018 at 11:31 PM
A Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 224 F/A-18 Hornet conducts an aerial refuel utilizing a KC-130J in coorlation with Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course in Yuma, Ariz., April 10. WTI is a seven-week training event hosted by MAWTS-1 cadre, which emphasizes operational integration of the six functions of Marine Corps aviation in support of a Marine Air Ground Task Force and provides standardized advanced tactical training and certification of unit instructor qualifications to support Marine Aviation Training and Readiness and assists in developing and employing aviation weapons and tactics. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. David Bickel/Released)

Developing Story: Two Aircraft Reported Down, Seven Aircrew Reported Missing.

Reports on Twitter indicate that two U.S. military aircraft have crashed during a midair refueling operation off Iwakuni, Japan.

Early reports that surfaced on Twitter report that an F/A-18 (unspecified variant) and a C-130 crashed into the sea with a total of seven crewmembers on board. The reports suggest the F/A-18 is a two-seat variant and five other crewmembers were on board the C-130.

The F/A-18 Hornet is a one or two-seat multi-role, twin engine tactical jet aircraft and the C-130 and its many versions including the U.S. Marine KC-130 aerial refueling variant is a large, four-engine turboprop used for numerous cargo, support and special missions by every branch of the U.S. military.

We will update this story as details become available.

Update Dec. 6, 13.30 GMT

Two of the aircrew involved in the mishap have been rescued. Search continues for the remaining five.

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Tom Demerly is a feature writer, journalist, photographer and editorialist who has written articles that are published around the world on TheAviationist.com, TACAIRNET.com, Outside magazine, Business Insider, We Are The Mighty, The Dearborn Press & Guide, National Interest, Russia’s government media outlet Sputnik, and many other publications. Demerly studied journalism at Henry Ford College in Dearborn, Michigan. Tom Demerly served in an intelligence gathering unit as a member of the U.S. Army and Michigan National Guard. His military experience includes being Honor Graduate from the U.S. Army Infantry School at Ft. Benning, Georgia (Cycle C-6-1) and as a Scout Observer in a reconnaissance unit, Company “F”, 425th INF (RANGER/AIRBORNE), Long Range Surveillance Unit (LRSU). Demerly is an experienced parachutist, holds advanced SCUBA certifications, has climbed the highest mountains on three continents and visited all seven continents and has flown several types of light aircraft.
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