KADENA AIR BASE, Japan — One Airman is confirmed deceased and two more are missing after they were washed out to sea from the northwest coast of Okinawa at about 3:45 p.m. Oct. 5.
An Airman that was found by the Japanese Coast Guard and pulled from the sea was later pronounced dead at a local hospital.
HH-60G Pave Hawks from Kadena Air Base, Japan and Japanese Coast Guard are continuing to search for the remaining two Airmen. Rough seas are complicating rescue efforts.
The names of the Airmen are being withheld for 24 hours after the notification of next of kin.
More information will be released as it becomes available.