An airman from Yokota Air Base died on Sunday after a training mission at Andersen Air Force Base on Guam.
In a Sunday release, Yokota said the unnamed airman, who was from the 374th Airlift Wing, "was found unresponsive during post flight inspections" and later died after finishing a training mission. Yokota said the airman's cause of death is under investigation.
Yokota is not releasing the name of the airman until 24 hours after the notification of the airman's next of kin.
The 374th traveled to Guam for Operation Christmas Drop, to deliver donated goods using C-130s to more than 20,000 people on more than 56 remote Pacific islands. The operation, with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and Royal Australian Air Force, . Yokota said Operation Christmas Drop, which officially began Dec. 8. It helps airmen "practic[e] critical humanitarian aid disaster relief training," Yokota said.
Stephen Losey is the air warfare reporter for Defense News. He previously covered leadership and personnel issues at Air Force Times, and the Pentagon, special operations and air warfare at Military.com. He has traveled to the Middle East to cover U.S. Air Force operations.
