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Marine Lost at Sea in Persian Gulf Identified

Cpl. Jordan Spears is presumed dead after he bailed out of a tilt-rotor aircraft that lost power shortly after takeoff in the Persian Gulf Wednesday.
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The military identified a Marine lost at sea during an aircraft accident in the Persian Gulf Wednesday. Cpl. Jordan Spears, 21, of Memphis Indiana, is presumed dead after the MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft lost power shortly after taking off from the USS Makin Island at about 9:10 a.m. EDT, and descended towards the water, officials said.

Spears and another Marine bailed out of the rear and into the Gulf, but the second crew member was safely rescued. The pilot was able to regain control of the craft and safely land on Makin Island, the military said. It is not clear why the two Marines bailed out early.

The Navy said the aircraft was supporting operations in the campaign against ISIS in Iraq and Syria when it went down, making Spears the first U.S. casualty associated with the operation.

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