A search and rescue operation for seven U.S. Airmen who were on board a United States Air Force CV-22B Osprey during a Thursday mishap off the coast of Japan’s Yakushima Island continues this weekend.
While eight were aboard the plane during the incident, remains of only one have been recovered so far, according to the Air Force Special Operations Command. Those remains belonged to U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jacob “Jake” M. Galliher, 24, the command said Saturday.
He was a was a “Direct Support Operator assigned to the 43rd Intelligence Squadron, Detachment 1, Operating Location – Alpha, 363rd Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Wing, Kadena Air Base, Japan,” and “43 IS Det 1 OL-A is a tenant unit in support of the 353rd Special Operations Wing.”
Galliher’s family has been notified. He’s from Pittsfield, Mass. and enlisted in the United States Air Force in 2017.
According to the Air Force Special Operations Command, the Osprey was from Yokota Air Base, Japan, and assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Wing. It was involved in an aircraft mishap while performing a routine training mission off the shore of Yakushima Island.
UNESCO lists the island on its World Heritage list due in part to its ancient rainforest and “impressive mountains.”
It is not clear why the mishap occurred.
According to the Air Force Times, it is “the latest fatal incident involving a U.S.-owned Osprey aircraft, in which dozens of service members have been injured or killed in accidents around the world over the past three decades.”
Last month, Audacy also reported on the crash of a different type of aircraft – a Black Hawk helicopter – that killed five U.S. service members in the Mediterranean.
Thursday’s incident marks the first fatal incident involving an Air Force-owned CV-22 since 2010, said the Air Force Times.
Other airmen aboard the plane near Yakushima are considered in “DUSTWUN” status as of Saturday. That status refers to “transitory casualty status used when the responsible commander suspects a member may be a casualty and whose absence is involuntary, but sufficient evidence does not exist to make a definite determination of current status, be it unauthorized absence (UA), missing, or deceased,” per the U.S. military.
Emergency personnel arrived at the scene Thursday to begin search and rescue operations.
In addition to the U.S. military, the Japan Coast Guard, Japanese Self-Defense Forces, local law enforcement, Japanese civilian volunteers and more helped continue the search Friday. This search included surface, and subsurface sweeps of the area in the vicinity of Yakushima, Japan. At that time, the command said one set of remains had been discovered.
“Our focus is to enable the ongoing, extensive 24/7 search and rescue operation while we care for the family and loved ones impacted by this mishap,” said Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, Air Force Special Operations commander said, per a Saturday update. “As search and rescue operations continue, our joint force and Japanese allies stand united in our determination to bring our Air Commandos home.”
Rear Adm. Jeromy Williams, Special Operations Command - Pacific commander thanked the U.S. and Japanese forces that came together to conduct the search operation.
“Family members, military and government civilians seeking assistance across the command whose lives have been impacted by recent events can reach out to the Emergency Family Assistance Cell at 850-884-4494,” said the command.