The search and rescue effort for three sailors missing after a Wednesday C-2A Greyhound crash has expanded in the Philippine Sea, according to U.S. 7th Fleet.
U.S. and Japanese ships and aircraft are searching for the sailors who were aboard the cargo aircraft that went down 500 miles off the coast of Okinawa at about 2:45 p.m. Japan Standard Time. Eight sailors aboard the C-2A were rescued and flown to aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76) following the crash. The Greyhound was assigned “Providers” of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 30, Detachment Five, forward deployed at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan.
“Ronald Reagan is leading combined search and rescue efforts with the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF). Searching through the night, several ships and aircraft covered more than 320 nautical miles as of this morning,” 7th Fleet said.
The ships and aircraft looking for the missing sailors are, “U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers USS Stethem (DDG-63), USS Chafee (DDG-90) and USS Mustin (DDG-89); MH-60R Seahawk helicopters of the “Saberhawks” from U.S. Navy Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM 77); P-8 aircraft from the “Fighting Tigers” of U.S. Navy Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Squadron (VP) 8; P-3 Orion aircraft of the “Red Hook” U.S. Navy Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Squadron (VP) 40; JMSDF Helicopter Carrier Japan Ships JS Kaga (DDH-184) and JS Ise (DDH-182); JMSDF Akizuki-class destroyer JS Teruzuki (DD-116); JMSDF Murasame-class destroyer JS Samidare (DD-106), and JMSDF Hatakaze-class destroyer JS Shimakaze (DDG-172),” according to a Thursday statement from 7th Fleet.
“Next of kin notifications to inform families that their sailors are duty status whereabouts unknown (DUSTWUN) are complete. Names will be withheld for up to 72 hours in accordance with U.S. Navy policy.”
The cause of the crash is under investigation.
A detachment of C-2s, some of the oldest planes in the Navy, accompany carrier strike groups as they travel throughout a deployment. They follow the strike group as it moves and ferry mail and passengers too and from the carrier at distances out of the range of a strike group’s helicopters.
The more than 50-year-old Greyhound design is set to be replaced by a variant of the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft in the early 2020s.
The following is the complete statement from U.S. 7th Fleet.
PHILIPPINE SEA – Search and rescue operations continue for three Sailors following a C-2A Greyhound aircraft crash southeast of Okinawa at 2:45 p.m. yesterday.
Next of kin notifications to inform families that their Sailors are duty status whereabouts unknown (DUSTWUN) are complete. Names will be withheld for up to 72 hours in accordance with U.S. Navy policy.
Eight Sailors were recovered and transferred to USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) for medical evaluation. All are in good condition at this time.
USS Ronald Reagan is leading combined search and rescue efforts with the Japan Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF). Searching through the night, several ships and aircraft covered more than 320 nautical miles as of this morning.
The following ships and aircraft are searching the area: U.S. Navy guided-missile destroyers USS Stethem (DDG 63), USS Chafee (DDG 90) and USS Mustin (DDG 89); MH-60R Seahawk helicopters of the “Saberhawks” from U.S. Navy Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM 77); P-8 aircraft from the “Fighting Tigers” of U.S. Navy Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Squadron (VP) 8; P-3 Orion aircraft of the “Red Hook” U.S. Navy Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Squadron (VP) 40; JMSDF Helicopter Carrier Japan Ships (JS) Kaga (DDH 184) and JS Ise (DDH 182); JMSDF Akizuki-class destroyer JS Teruzuki (DD 116); JMSDF Murasame-class destroyer JS Samidare (DD 106), and JMSDF Hatakaze-class destroyer JS Shimakaze (DDG 172).
At approximately 2:45 p.m. Japan Standard Time, Nov. 22, 2017, the C2-A aircraft with 11 crew and passengers onboard crashed into the ocean approximately 500 nautical miles southeast of Okinawa. The aircraft was conducting a routine transport flight carrying passengers and cargo from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni to Ronald Reagan.
The C2-A is assigned to the “Providers” of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron Three Zero, Detachment Five, forward deployed in NAF Atsugi, Japan. Detachment Five’s mission includes the transport of high-priority cargo, mail, duty passengers and Distinguished Visitors between USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and shore bases throughout the Western Pacific and Southeast Asia theaters.
The incident is under investigation.
