2 Marines Missing in Jet Crash
Rain halted a search today for two U.S. Marine pilots missing after their jet crashed into the Yellow Sea between China and South Korea.
The Marines’ FA-18d Hornet crashed during a routine training mission Sunday, said Jim Coles, spokesman for the U.S. military command in Seoul. The search was suspended at dusk Sunday and then resumed today before the weather forced its suspension.
The missing officers were identified as Capt. Mark R. Nickles of Mesa, Ariz., and Maj. Danny A D’Eredita of Syracuse, N.Y.
The jet was on a training mission over South Korea with another FA-18d jet when it went down in the sea off Taean, 60 miles southwest of Seoul, Coles said.
Both jets are assigned to the Iwakuni Marine Corps Air Base in southeastern Japan.
The cause of the crash was not known, Coles said.
The other jet safely landed at Osan Air Base south of Seoul.
Ten South Korean navy and maritime vessels, assisted by U.S. and South Korean helicopters, participated in the search for the missing pilots.
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