The Marine missing at sea from an Osprey mishap over the Persian Gulf Wednesday has been identified as 21-year-old Cpl. Jordan L. Spears of Memphis, Indiana.
He was assigned to Marine Tiltrotor Squadron 163, tasked with supporting operation of the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit as a part of the Makin Island Amphibious Ready Group in the 5th Fleet Area of Operations. A release Thursday said that all available forces searched through the night and into the next day before breaking off at 10 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time.
The Osprey temporarily lost power during takeoff from the amphibious assault ship Makin Island over the Persian Gulf, according to a 5th Fleet press release. The pilot regained control of the aircraft, returned to the ship and landed safely, but not before two members of the crew jumped off into the water, the 5th Fleet said.
One member was recovered and is in stable condition aboard the ship. U.S. Navy ships, aircraft and boats began sweeping the area in a search-and-rescue effort for the other crew member, but no trace of the missing Marine was found. The cause of the power outage aboard the Osprey is under investigation.
The 11th MEU consists of a headquarters command element; Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 163 (Reinforced) as its aviation element; grunts in the ground element of Battalion Landing Team 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines; and Combat Logistics Battalion 11.
The Makin Island ARG deployed to the Middle East from its home port of San Diego July 25 to support operations in the Central Command area of responsibility. It includes the dock landing ship Comstock and the amphibious transport dock San Diego, which is on its maiden deployment.
In all, there are more than 4,000 Marines and sailors with the unit.
