They were refueling at 2 AM.
Here's a picture of the two types of aircraft involved, and what they were attempting:
Posted on 12/06/2018 7:03:27 AM PST by mac_truck
A search-and-rescue operation is underway off the coast of Japan.
The military says a U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet was refueling from and KC-130 Hercules when both planes crashed early Thursday morning.
Both planes had taken off from Maine Corps Air Station Iwakuni and were reportedly doing training exercises when the accident happened.
The crash happened around 2:00 a.m. local time.
(Excerpt) Read more at kmph.com ...
I have such a difficult time picturing the mechanics of this terrible event.
They both have the best avionics (I assume). The have eyesight (although at the speeds the FA/18 runs it is split second to go miles).
But still — the sky is so huge.
Was this some sort of waypoint overcrossing?
FR Nav/Milcraft folks?
Not sure which coast, but 2am 12/06/18 Tokyo was raining. Trying to refuel in poor weather.
RIP Marines.
Was this some sort of waypoint overcrossing?
~~~
I haven’t heard much of anything about this yet but I assumed they were in the act of refueling. It can be a vary precarious maneuver requiring nerves of steel.
Prayers up for the Marines.
Jet, are you still with us?
In the dark....
Not military but a General Aviation Pilot.
It was likely a refueling accident.
I’m guessing the fighter overlapped the fueler and struck the elevator or rudder.
One survived. I assume that the survivor punched out of the fighter after the accident. Those in the refueler rode it down as there is no easy way to bail out. Even with parachutes.
In a pressurized cabin, it would take a lot of time and effort to depressurize and open doors etc under high g loads of an out of control aircraft.
They were refueling at 2 AM.
Here's a picture of the two types of aircraft involved, and what they were attempting:
I’m hearing that it was off the southeast coast of Japan and the planes were flying out of the Marine Corps Air Station in Iwakuni.
Japanese Defense Forces recovered the two pilots, but the five member Marine refueling crew are still missing.
Not sure what the weather conditions are.
That is still amazing news. Our relationship with Japan, overall, is so much improved.
For all the heinous crap they pulled in WWII, I do love their country and culture.
Oh, I see now.
Sad — this should be bread and butter stuff.
Add turbulence or whatever and s-it happens fast.
Factor in night, 200 miles out to sea, and it happens even faster.
There is nothing “bread and butter” about night operations. Whether you are operating on land, in the air, or at sea, it is easy for something bad to happen, very quickly.
The wonder is not that there was an accident, but that it does not happen more often.
>>The wonder is not that there was an accident, but that it does not happen more often<<
That is why it is unwise for us who do not actually do these things to opine.
I have massive respect (and envy) for those who execute such operations. I love milcraft and sadly have a fear of heights (and vision issues) that kept me away from it.
Thanks for clarifying.
Prayers for the family of the dead hero.
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