A US Navy aircraft with 11 crew and passengers has crashed into the Philippine Sea southeast of Okinawa, the US 7th Fleet said in a statement.
The aircraft crashed at approximately 2:45 p.m., Wednesday, while en route to the US aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) which is currently operating in the Philippine Sea.
The navy said personnel recovery was underway adding that their condition will be evaluated by medical staff aboard USS Ronald Reagan.
USS Ronald Reagan is conducting search and rescue operations. The cause of the crash is not known at this time.
The names of the crew and passengers are being withheld pending next of kin notification.
Update:
The US Navy has confirmed that the aircraft in question is a Grumman C2-A Greyhound, used by the navy for carrier onboard delivery.
The US 7th Fleet further informed that eight personnel have been recovered while search and rescue efforts for three others were still underway.
All personnel were transferred to USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) for medical evaluation and are in good condition at this time.
The C2-A is assigned to the “Providers” of Fleet Logistics Support Squadron Three Zero, Detachment Five, forward deployed in NAF Atsugi, Japan. Detachment Five’s mission includes the transport of high-priority cargo, mail, duty passengers and Distinguished Visitors between USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) and shore bases throughout the Western Pacific and Southeast Asia theaters.