US military aircraft crashes in Mediterranean Sea after training mishap [update]

[libertybele]

US military aircraft crashes in Mediterranean Sea after training mishap, 'no indication' of hostile activity
An American military aircraft crashed Friday night in the eastern Mediterranean Sea, U.S. European Command confirmed.

In a press release, U.S. European Command (EUCOM) said that the unspecified aircraft was conducting a training operation and "suffered a mishap and went down."

The organization, which is responsible for U.S. military operations across Europe, portions of Asia and the Middle East, the Arctic and Atlantic Ocean, said that they can "definitively say" that the mishap was "purely related to" training exercises and that there are "no indications of hostile activity."

It is not clear what service branch the personnel involved are a part of, or details about the aircraft or its crew. .....


https://www.foxnews.com/politics/us-military-aircraft-crashes-mediterranean-sea-after-training-mishap-no-indication-hostile-activity

[mystery-ak]

 5 killed after military aircraft crashes into eastern Mediterranean Sea
by Ellen Mitchell - 11/12/23 11:36 AM ET



Five U.S. service members were killed Friday evening after their aircraft suffered a mishap and crashed into the eastern Mediterranean Sea, the Pentagon revealed Sunday.

The mishap took place “during a routine air refueling mission as part of military training,” and all onboard the aircraft were killed, U.S. European Command (EUCOM) said in a brief statement. 

An earlier release from EUCOM stressed that the aircraft crash “was purely related to training and there are no indications of hostile activity.”

The command gave no further details on the type of aircraft involved in the crash, the military service it belonged to, or the exact location or timing of the accident.

Nearby U.S. military aircraft and ships began search-and-rescue efforts immediately, and the incident is under investigation.

“Out of respect for the affected families, and in accordance with Department of Defense policy, the identities of the crewmembers are being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin notifications have been completed,” according to the statement.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the fallen,” it added.

The Pentagon has moved additional U.S. forces to the Middle East following the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas militants on Israel.

The U.S. military deployed the USS Gerald R. Ford strike group to the eastern Mediterranean and the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower strike group to the Persian Gulf.


https://thehill.com/policy/defense/4306100-5-killed-after-military-aircraft-crashes-into-eastern-mediterranean-sea/

[mystery-ak]

U.S. special operations troops killed in eastern Mediterranean Sea aircraft accident

The five U.S. service members killed in an aircraft crash on Saturday were special operations personnel, Fox News has learned.

The aircraft that the service members were flying in had "suffered a mishap" and crashed, according to U.S. European Command (EUCOM). It was on a routine refueling air mission.

The aircraft was a spec ops Black Hawk helicopter. The training accident is under investigation.

President Biden said in a statement that he and his wife are "praying for the families and friends who have lost a precious loved one."

"Our service members put their lives on the line for our country every day," Biden's statement read. "They willingly take risks to keep the American people safe and secure. And their daily bravery and selflessness is an enduring testament to what is best in our nation."

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin released a statement about the strikes on Sunday evening.

"U.S. military forces conducted precision strikes today on facilities in eastern Syria used by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and Iran-affiliated groups in response to continued attacks against U.S. personnel in Iraq and Syria," the statement read. "The strikes were conducted against a training facility and a safe house near the cities of Abu Kamal and Mayadin, respectively."

"The President has no higher priority than the safety of U.S. personnel, and he directed today’s action to make clear that the United States will defend itself, its personnel, and its interests," he added.

Fox News Digital's Jennifer Griffin, Stephen Sorace and the Associated Press contributed to this report.
Posted by Andrea Vacchiano

[mystery-ak]

The U.S. military released the names and photos of the five special operators who were killed in an aircraft "mishap" this weekend.

The U.S. says the five men were U.S. Army Special Operations aviation soldiers conducting a routine refueling flight at the time of the crash. The Pentagon identified the deceased as the following:

-Chief Warrant Officer 3 Stephen R. Dwyer, 38, of Clarksville, Tennessee

-Chief Warrant Officer 2 Shane M. Barnes, 34, of Sacramento, California

-Staff Sgt. Tanner W. Grone, 26, of Gorham, New Hampshire

-Sgt. Andrew P. Southard, 27, of Apache Junction, Arizona

-Sgt. Cade M. Wolfe, 24, of Mankato, Minnesota

The U.S. says the five men were killed during a refueling flight and that there was no indication of any hostile action.
Posted by Anders Hagstrom