In a devastating incident off the coast of Japan, a CV-22 Osprey aircraft, designated as GUNDAM 22, crashed, resulting in the loss of eight U.S. airmen. The fallen airmen have been identified as Maj. Jeffrey T. Hoernemann, Maj. Eric V. Spendlove, Maj. Luke A. Unrath, Capt. Terrell K. Brayman, Tech. Sgt. Zachary E. Lavoy, Staff Sgt. Jake M. Turnage, Staff Sgt. Jake M. Galliher, and Senior Airman Brian K. Johnson.

Maj. Hoernemann, aged 32, was an instructor pilot and officer in charge of training at the 21st Special Operations Squadron at Yokota Air Base, Japan. Maj. Spendlove, aged 36, served as a residency-trained flight surgeon and medical operations flight commander at the 1st Special Operations Squadron at Kadena Air Base, Japan. Maj. Unrath, aged 34, was a pilot and flight commander at the 21st SOS, while Capt. Brayman, aged 32, served as a pilot and flight commander in the same squadron. Tech. Sgt. Lavoy, aged 33, held the position of medical operations flight chief at the 1st SOS. Staff Sgt. Turnage, aged 25, served as a flight engineer at the 21st SOS. Staff Sgt. Galliher, aged 24, specialized in Mandarin Chinese as an airborne linguist assigned to Yokota's 43rd Intelligence Squadron, Detachment 1. Lastly, Senior Airman Johnson, aged 32, held the role of flight engineer at the 21st SOS.

The recovery efforts have been relentless, with a team comprising military and civilian search units from the U.S. and Japan, as well as local fishermen, working nonstop for nearly a week to locate survivors. Sadly, the focus has now shifted to recovering the remains of the rest of the crew, rather than finding them alive.

Up to this point, the Air Force has recovered the remains of three airmen and is in the process of recovering three more, while two individuals are still unaccounted for. The exact identities of the recovered remains have not been disclosed by the military.

In addition to salvaging the remains, efforts are also being made to retrieve the wreckage of the Osprey's fuselage. The crash site is located in waters about 30 meters (100 feet) deep, according to the Japanese coast guard.

The tragic incident involving GUNDAM 22 marks the fourth fatal Osprey crash in the past two years, claiming the lives of a total of 20 American troops. This is the first fatal incident involving an Air Force-owned CV-22 since 2010 and the deadliest accident for the service since 2018.

The crash follows another lethal special operations mission in November, when five soldiers perished in a MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crash in the eastern Mediterranean Sea.

The airmen were part of the 353rd Special Operations Wing, based in Japan, which utilizes the Osprey for transport and supply missions across the Pacific. The Osprey's unique capability of vertical takeoff and landing, coupled with airplane-like forward speed, allows it to access remote and otherwise inaccessible areas.

While the cause of the crash is yet to be determined, concerns have been raised about the safety of the Osprey fleet. The U.S. Osprey fleet has experienced incidents known as "hard clutch engagements," which involve a temporary slip and re-engagement of the aircraft's clutch, leading to an uneven distribution of power to its rotors. Such occurrences can result in dangerous lurching movements.

Eyewitness reports have described the ill-fated CV-22 turning upside down, with fire emanating from one of its engines, before plunging into the sea.

As a result of the crash, Japan has suspended the operations of its own Osprey fleet and called for a similar action from the U.S. However, the Marine Corps has stated that it will not ground the fleet, while the Air Force has temporarily halted routine Osprey flights to focus on the investigation.

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has pledged a thorough and rigorous investigation into the accident, conveying his condolences to the families and loved ones of the airmen who lost their lives in service to their country.

The tragic event serves as a stark reminder of the sacrifices made by military personnel, and their honorable service will always be remembered.