On Nov. 29, the U.S. Air Force CV-22B Osprey from Yokota Air Base in Japan crashed near Yakushima island in southern Japan. The Air Force has not identified the cause of the crash, which it said took place during a routine training mission.
The Air Force has so far identified one victim, U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jacob “Jake” M. Galliher, 24, from Pittsfield, Mass.
The CV-22B Osprey, a tilt-rotor aircraft, takes off and lands like a helicopter but flies like an airplane to transport troops and equipment. It is known for speed and flexibility, but its safety record has come under scrutiny in the aftermath of several deadly crashes.
The deployment of the Ospreys has become controversial in Japan, with local residents and critics of the U.S. military presence raising safety concerns. The U.S. military’s Ospreys are assigned to Yokota Air Base in the western suburbs of Tokyo.
The day after the crash, Tokyo suspended flights of its Osprey aircraft and asked the U.S. military to ground all non-emergency flights of its Ospreys operating in Japan until the crash is investigated and their flight safety can be confirmed. But the United States has continued operating them.
“The main priority is bringing the Airmen home and taking care of their family members,” the statement read. “Support to, and the privacy of, the families and loved ones impacted by this incident remains AFSOC’s top priority.”
Some pieces of the wreckage were collected by Japanese Coast Guard and fishermen and were handed over to the U.S. military, Japanese news outlet Kyodo News reported.
Galliher, the identified crash victim, joined the U.S. Air Force in 2017, the Air Force said, calling him a “consummate intelligence professional and dedicated academic.” Galliher was a linguist specializing in Mandarin, according to the statement.
“Jacob was a beloved husband, father, son, and brother as well as a model Airman who will be forever remembered for his dedication to this great nation and his fellow warriors,” U.S. Air Force Maj. Gilbert Summers said in the Air Force’s statement.
“With a ready smile, Jake brought the unit together on and off-duty through humor and an inexhaustible supply of energy, whether it was on the aircraft, in the gym, or on the slopes with the team. Everywhere he went, and everyone he met, was made better for him being there,” Summers said.
