WHITFIELD: We're following breaking news. The Navy has identified the three sailors killed when their plane crashed off the coast of Japan Wednesday. This comes after the military notified their families that the extensive search and rescue efforts ended. CNN's Polo Sandoval joining me now with details on this -- Polo?</s>POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Fred, the U.S. Navy had been holding off on releasing the identities of these three men until they could notify families. Today, releasing both the names and the faces of those men that were now presumed dead by the Navy: Lieutenant Steven Combs from Florida you see there, Airman Matthew Chialastri from Louisiana, and Airman Apprentice Bryan Grosso also from Florida. They were among 11 crew and passengers on board the Navy transport plane that crashed as it approached an air carrier on Wednesday. Eight of the occupants on that cargo aircraft were rescued by both U.S. officials and Japanese officials that had been searching after that collision. Now, the commanding officer releasing a statement after this incident. I want to read a portion of that, Fred, if I could. It reads, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the sailors. Their service and sacrifice will be lasting in Seventh Fleet, and we will continue to stand the watch for them, as they did bravely for all of us." This coming from Vice Admiral Phil Sawyer, the commander of the U.S. Seventh Fleet. As for a potential cause here, the investigation, Fred, is still ongoing, but the Japanese defense minister has said that engine trouble could potentially be to blame. But again, that investigation still ongoing right now.</s>WHITFIELD: All right, Polo Sandoval, thank you so much. We'll be right back.
Navy Identifies 3 Sailors Killed Aboard Transport Plane