Arizona Marine among five missing in Japan, according to family

PHOENIX (FOX 10) - A Valley family says their son is one of the five missing Marines in Japan.

The Department of Defense hasn't confirmed any of the Marines' identities, but the family says Maximo Alexander Flores and five other crew members went missing after two planes collided off the coast of Japan.

Fox 10's Jennifer Martinez exclusively spoke with the family and they hope their 27-year-old son, who's been missing for four days, will come back home.

"He was a smart student, I knew that he was going to do something positive and he has," said Rosa Bennett, Flores's mother.

It's been a long four days for Rosa Bennett and her family, after the heartbreaking news that her son, 27-year-old Maximo Alexander Flores is among the five Marines lost at sea in Japan after a mid-air collision.

"I just try to keep myself busy, I can't concentrate because he keeps coming into my thoughts, all I can do is pray," said Bennett.

Flores has been in the Marines for nine years, it was always his dream.

"As a child he always looked forward to becoming a Marine," said Bennett. "I was happy and very proud of him, I never worried because the thought of this happening never crossed my mind. I never imagined what he was doing was so dangerous but he really enjoyed flying."

The family says they're preparing for the worst but hoping for the best.

"I was just and I still pray that they find him," says Bennett.

Flores is one of six children. He is married, and his family says his wife is currently in Japan.