TOKYO (Sputnik) – Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has extended his condolences to US President Donald Trump over the deaths of three US sailors, who were on board a US C2-A aircraft that recently crashed in the Pacific Ocean near Okinawa, the Japanese Foreign Ministry said Monday.
"We are determined to strengthen the allied ties of Japan and the United States as well as to work together to protect peace and security in the region," Abe said as quoted in the statement.
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According to the statement, Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono also extended his condolences to US State Secretary Rex Tillerson, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Commander of the US Pacific Command Adm. Harry B. Harris.
My prayers are with those involved in the crash of the @USNavy C2-A aircraft in the Pacific, especially the three who remain missing and their loved ones. US sailors & our partners are no doubt working tirelessly to locate them and we hope they are safe and successful.
— Senator John Boozman (@JohnBoozman) 22 ноября 2017 г.
On November 22, the commander of the US 7th Fleet announced that a C2-A aircraft carrying a crew of 11 sailors hadd crashed into the Pacific Ocean near the Japanese island of Okinawa. The aircraft was on a routine transport flight and was on its way back to the USS Ronald Reagan, which was operating in the Philippine Sea as part of US-Japanese joint naval drills.
#BREAKING: #USNavy identifies Sailors lost in C-2A crash — https://t.co/O3HElbJn3g pic.twitter.com/HblLvMRb9G
— U.S. Navy (@USNavy) 25 ноября 2017 г.
Eight sailors were immediately saved and taken to the aircraft carrier. The rescued crewmen are currently in good condition, according to the Navy.
