TOKYO, Japan — Officials have confirmed that one of the two people who were rescued after two Marine warplanes crashed off the coast of Japan has died as searchers are trying to find five missing U.S. service members.

  • Other crew member found in stable condition
  • Cause of crash under investigation

The crash happened about 2 a.m. EST, Wednesday, off of Japan's southwestern coast when U.S. Marine Corps stated that an F-A 18 fighter jet collided with a KC-130 refueling plane.

The two aircraft were carrying seven crewmembers in total, two in the F/A-18 and five others in the KC-130, when they collided and crashed into the sea south of the Muroto Cape on Shikoku island in southwestern Japan. The cause of the crash is under investigation.

The Maritime Self-Defense Force has rescued two crewmembers, but one of them has died, according to the U.S. military. The other person, who has not been named, is listed in fair condition.

The two warplanes were participating in a routine training mission, which included aerial refueling, when the collision occurred.

The crash is the latest in recent series of accidents involving the U.S. military deployed to and near Japan.

Last month, a U.S. Navy F/A-18 Hornet from the aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan crashed into the sea southwest of Japan’s southern island of Okinawa, though its two pilots were rescued safely.

In mid-October, a MH-60 Seahawk also belonging to the Ronald Reagan crashed off the Philippine Sea shortly after takeoff, causing non-fatal injuries to a dozen sailors.