WHITFIELD: Hello, again, everyone. Thank you so much for joining me this Saturday. I'm Fredricka Whitfield. We're following breaking news. The U.S. Navy has identified the three sailors killed when their plane crashed off the coast of Japan Wednesday. This comes after the military notified the families that the extensive search and rescue efforts ended. CNN's Polo Sandoval joining me live now with more details on this -- Polo.</s>POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fred, as you mentioned, the U.S. Navy has been holding off on releasing the identities of these three brave men after they called off the search there in the waters of the Western Pacific. However, today, we now have the names and faces of these three brave men. They include Lieutenant Steven Combs, Airman Matthew Chialastri and Airman Apprentice Bryan Grosso. The three men presumed dead now by the Navy. They were among 11 crew and passengers aboard a Navy transport plane that crashed as it approached an air carrier on Wednesday. Eight of the occupants aboard that C-2A Greyhound aircraft were rescued. Vice Admiral Phil Sawyer, the commander of the U.S.'s 7th Fleet, releasing a statement to the families about the tragic loss of these three individuals. It reads as follows. Quote, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of these sailors. Their service and sacrifice will be lifting in 7th Fleet and we will continue to stand the watch for them as they did bravely for all of us." Again, eight of the occupants of that aircraft were rescued by both U.S. and Japanese officials as they searched nearly 1,000 square nautical miles just after that crash, Fred. The Japanese defense minister said that engine trouble possibly may be to blame for the tragedy, though the investigation, Fred, is still ongoing at this hour.</s>WHITFIELD: So sad. All right, Polo Sandoval, thank you. Republicans are hoping to push through their tax reform bill in a matter of weeks. It gives big cuts to corporations and the wealthy, but Democrats say the middle class will wind up paying more. One Democratic lawmaker join us live to talk taxes next.
Navy Identifies Three Sailors Killed In Plane Crash