US military has declared the five Missing US Marines deceased after a week two US planes struck and crashed near the coast of Japan.

The incident triggered a huge search operation involving the search of F/A-18 fighter and a KC-130 refueling tanker. Only one survived of seven crew members. Now, an official announcement has brought the death toll to six including 5 missing.

While expresses his condolences to families of the crew, US Marine Corps Lt Gen Eric Smith told that: “Every possible effort was made to recover our crew and I hope the families of these selfless Americans will find comfort in the incredible efforts made by US, Japanese, and Australian forces during the search”.

The US military hasn’t released the identities of those five Marines who declared dead. The main reason behind the collision remains unclear.

Background

Earlier, two US aircrafts collided and crashed into the sea almost 200 miles (320km) from the coast of Japan during a refueling exercise. However, US military hasn’t leaked out yet.

The US planes flew from Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni near Hiroshima. They were conducting regularly scheduled training at the time of the collision.

Two Marines survived in the incident but one, Capt Jahmar Resilard, the pilot of the F/A-18 died with injuries.

The KC-130 has made for mid-air refueling. McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet fighter and attack aircraft also have the ability to transport missiles and bombs.

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