A search and rescue operation for a United States marine was called off Thursday after authorities failed to find him since he went missing in the Persian Gulf after jumping off an aircraft, the U.S. Navy said. The unidentified American is the first U.S. military member to have died in the U.S.-led attack against the Islamic State group in northern Iraq and Syria.
Flying with four other crewmen in a new U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey aircraft, the Marine airman was flying from the USS Makin Island on Wednesday afternoon (local time) when the plane suddenly lost power and seemed to be heading toward the sea.
Right after two crew members, including the Marine whose identity has not been released, jumped out of the aircraft, the pilot of the Osprey aircraft recovered control and managed to land the high-tech plane safely abroad the USS Makin Island, International Business Times reported.
Immediately a search and rescue was launched, with one of the crew members being found and rushed to the amphibious assault ship, where he was confirmed to be in stable condition.
"U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel conducted an extensive search of the area using all available assets, which continued throughout the night and the next day," U.S. Naval Forces Central Command said in a statement, reported by BNO News as well as Central Command.
After the unidentified marine serviceman could not be located, the search in the North Persian Gulf was called off at 11 a.m. EDT Thursday.
"The Navy and Marine Corps will investigate the cause of the incident," the Navy said in a press statement. "In accordance with U.S. Department of Defense policy, the name of the Marine will be withheld until 24 hours after family member notification."
"The V-22 is a tilt-rotor aircraft that can take off like a helicopter, but fly like a normal propeller-powered aircraft. The MV-22 is an upgraded version outfitted for night operations and for aerial refueling, and is typically used to rescue pilots shot down over hostile territory," according to The Daily Caller.
