A Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force rescue flying boat on Thursday retrieved the pilot of a U.S. F/A-18 that crashed into the Pacific off western Japan the previous day, according to the Defense Ministry.
The condition of the pilot, who is set to be sent to the Marines’ Air Station Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, was not immediately revealed.
Reports by Military.com announced that the family confirmed the pilot, Marine Capt. Jake Frederick was deceased.
The fighter jet stationed at the U.S. Iwakuni base went down around 6:44 p.m. Wednesday about 130 kilometers south of the city of Kochi, western Japan.
The pilot ejected from the aircraft, and search and rescue efforts by the U.S. military in coordination with the MSDF and the Air Self-Defense Force were expanded to a greater radius, according to the .
The area is a designated training zone for the U.S. military.
“The incident was very regrettable. We want to request that the government ask the U.S. side to clarify the cause of the accident and come up with preventive measures,” Kochi Gov. Masanao Ozaki told reporters earlier in the day.
The governor suggested he would call for a suspension of low-altitude training flights over Shikoku, one of Japan’s main islands which has four prefectures including Kochi, by the U.S. military until the cause of the accident is clear.
“We hope (the U.S. military) will allay local anxiety by making safety the first priority in operating military aircraft,” Yamaguchi Gov. Tsugumasa Muraoka told reporters.
USMC Life contributed to the report
==Kyodo
RIP Marine warrior , your next duty station will be one of great peace . Prayers to family and all that knew him ! Semper Fi