The one Marine that has been recovered alive after a mishap involving a Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet and KC-130 Refueler some 200 miles off the coast of Japan on Thursday was released from the hospital today while the search continues for the 5-man crew of the KC-130. The other Marine flying aboard the Hornet, Captain Jahmar F. Resilard, 28, was pronounced dead shortly after he was recovered from the Pacific.

Monday’s search has included assistance from a pair of UH-60 Black Hawks hailing from Japan’s Self Defense Forces, which joined
Air Force CV-22 Osprey, MC-130J, C-130J Super Hercules, RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft, KC-135 Stratotanker, RQ-4 Global Hawk, and a Navy P-8 Poseidon from America’s Pacific fleet, as well as at least one Australian P-8.

Thus far, the Defense Department has not commented on how long they intend to continue the search, though four days after the crash occurred, it’s seeming increasingly unlikely that any more Marines will be recovered alive.

The cause of the collision is still under investigation, but Marine Corps officials have confirmed that it occurred during nighttime refueling operations — widely considered to be among the most dangerous tasks military aviators regularly execute. 

Feature image courtesy of Flickr