The U.S. Navy ended its search for a Marine who bailed out of an MV-22 Osprey and fell into the Arabian Gulf. Navy officials said the Marine is presumed dead.
U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard personnel conducted an extensive search throughout Wednesday night and Thursday, service officials said.
The missing Marine was one of two air crewmen who bailed out of the MV-22 Osprey after the aircraft lost power on takeoff from the USS Makin Island, an amphibious assault ship, Navy officials said. One crewmember was safely recovered and is now in stable condition aboard the Makin Island.
"There were four personnel aboard the aircraft when it took off, two pilots and two enlisted aircrew. The lost Marine was one of the two enlisted aircrew who exited the aircraft when it appeared the Osprey might crash into the ocean," a Navy statement said.
The pilot of the Osprey was able to regain control and safely land aboard the Makin Island. Navy and Marine Corps officials will investigate the cause of the incident.
Marines with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit are assigned to the Makin Island, which is currently on a scheduled deployment to the Arabian Gulf where it is supporting operations in Iraq and Syria.
The Makin Island amphibious ready group, or ARG, is on station to replace the USS Bataan ARG which has been supporting ongoing operations in the region.
Along with the 11th MEU, the Makin Island amphibious ready group consists of an amphibious dock landing ship called the USS Comstock and an amphibious transport dock called the USS San Diego.
-- Kris Osborn can be reached at kris.osborn@monster.com
