Statement on the Deaths of United States Servicemembers in a Helicopter Crash Near Yakushima Island in Japan

Jill and I were heartbroken to learn of the loss of eight American servicemembers when their aircraft crashed off the coast of Japan last week during a routine training mission. Since then, we were focused on search and rescue, which ended today after an extensive weeklong effort. Our servicemembers and their families are the backbone of our Nation. We owe them everything. Jill and I are praying for the families and friends who lost a loved one in this terrible accident. We are also grateful to the Government of Japan for assisting in the search-and-rescue and ongoing recovery efforts. Our entire nation mourns this tragic loss.