Tokyo — A probe into the crash between a US navy destroyer and a Philippine-flagged cargo ship was under way on Monday, as the names of seven American sailors who died were made public. Investigators were looking at how the USS Fitzgerald came to be holed in the smash in a busy shipping lane near its home port on Saturday. The container ship, the 222m Philippine-flagged ACX Crystal, made a 180° turn shortly before the accident, according to data from the Marine Traffic website. It was not immediately clear what prompted the sharp turn. The US navy and Japan’s coast guard are conducting separate inquiries, but would probably be co-operating, a spokesman for Japan’s transport safety board said. Japanese coast guard investigators will be interviewing the Filipino crew of the Japanese-owned container ship, although the US has primary jurisdiction in investigating accidents involving military. Citing local investigators, Japan’s top-selling Yomiuri newspaper said on Monday that the damag...
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