Search for 5 missing US Marines off Japan coast called off

TOKYO - Search and rescue operations were called off Tuesday for five missing US Marines who were aboard a jet and a tanker plane when they fatally collided midair last week off Japan's western coast.

According to the Defense Ministry here, the search was called off as there were no significant remnants of the crash site detectable, despite US forces, Japan's Self-Defense Forces, the Japan Coast Guard as well as the Australian air force searching an area covering round 90,000 square km of area in the Pacific Ocean.

Two Marines on the F/A-18 fighter jet were rescued on the day of the incident, but Capt. Jahmar Resilard, 28, was pronounced dead on his arrival at medical facilities, US officials said.

The five Marines unaccounted for are believed to have been on board a KC-130 tanker plane.

The ministry said the planes, based at the Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni in western Japan, were conducting a routine training operation when the collision occurred around 100 km south of Cape Muroto in Kochi Prefecture.

US Forces Japan commander on Tuesday officially recognized the deceased and thanked its allies for their swift and tireless efforts in searching for the missing crew members.