U.S. Army finds second soldier lost in Morocco’s deadly cliffs as divers pull her remains from hidden cave 500 meters from crash site
Gone too soon.
The U.S. Army has recovered the remains of the second soldier missing in Morocco’s treacherous coastal cliffs, bringing a heartbreaking close to a multinational search that spanned nearly two weeks. Specialist Mariyah Symone Collington, 19, was found in a hidden cave about 500 meters from where she and 1st Lt. Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. reportedly entered the ocean after falling during an off-duty hike near the Cap Draa Training Area.
According to The Hill, the discovery marks the end of an exhaustive search effort that involved over 1,000 U.S. and Moroccan personnel, cutting-edge technology, and some of the most challenging terrain imaginable. Collington’s remains were pulled from a coastal cave on May 12, 2026, though the Army didn’t confirm her identity until May 14.
The cave’s location made recovery efforts especially difficult. Strong ocean currents, jagged cliffs, and the cave’s limited accessibility forced search teams to adapt constantly, using drones, helicopters, dive teams, and mountaineers to cover more than 13,000 square miles of land and sea. The operation was a testament to the sheer scale of modern search-and-rescue missions, where every variable played a role in narrowing down the search zones.
The incident occurred during African Lion 2026
African Lion is an annual multinational military exercise led by the U.S. in Morocco. Collington and Key had been hiking off-duty near the training area when they fell from a cliff into the ocean. The exact circumstances remain under investigation, but the tragedy has cast a shadow over what’s typically a high-profile demonstration of military cooperation.
This year’s exercise involved thousands of troops from multiple nations, making the loss of two soldiers all the more poignant. The last fatalities during African Lion were in 2012, when two Marines died in a helicopter crash in Agadir.
Collington, a Florida native, had only recently been promoted to specialist on May 1, just days before the accident. She joined the Army in 2024 after enlisting through the Delayed Entry Program in 2023, completing Basic Combat Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.
By February 2025, she was stationed in Ansbach, Germany, with Charlie Battery, 5th Battalion, 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment. Her role as an air and missile defense crew member put her on the front lines of a critical military function, but those who served with her remember her for far more than her job title.
“Spc. Collington was a bright light in this battalion,” said Lt. Col. Chris Couch, her battalion commander. “To the Soldiers who knew her best and served alongside her each day, she was a treasured friend whose loss leaves a deep and profound void on our team.” Her impact on her unit was undeniable.
Capt. Spencer Grider, commander of Charlie Battery, described her as someone whose “unwavering enthusiasm and positive spirit uplifted every environment she entered.” Whether in the field or among peers, her energy was infectious, fostering camaraderie and connection. “Her genuine warmth and heartfelt sense of humor brought people together,” Grider added. “Her presence will be greatly missed across our formation.”
The recovery effort was a joint operation between U.S. and Moroccan forces
Moroccan military mountaineers and civil protection teams worked alongside the U.S. Air Force pararescuemen to navigate the perilous coastal terrain. Once Collington’s remains were located, they were transported by Moroccan helicopter to the Moulay El Hassan Military Hospital in Guelmim. On the evening of May 12, both she and Key were honored in a dignified carry at the military airport in Guelmim before their remains were flown back to the U.S. aboard a C-130J.
More than 21,300 sq.km, roughly the size of New Jersey, were scoured using an array of assets in the search. Drones provided aerial surveillance, while rotary-wing and fixed-wing aircraft covered vast distances. Surface vessels patrolled the waters, and dive teams explored underwater caves and crevices.
Mountaineering teams scaled cliffs, and ground search elements combed the shoreline. Every day, planners adjusted their approach based on real-time data, shifting resources to the highest-probability areas. It’s a level of logistical precision that’s hard to fathom, especially when you consider the human stakes involved.
Brig. Gen. Curtis King, commanding general of the 10th Army Air and Missile Defense Command, called Collington’s recovery a bittersweet moment. “Her recovery closes the search for our two missing Soldiers, but our commitment to caring for their Families, friends, and teammates continues,” he said.
The Army has emphasized that support for the soldiers’ loved ones remains a priority, though no further details about the families have been released. Collington’s awards and decorations include the Army Service Ribbon, a small but meaningful recognition of her service.
The outpouring of gratitude for the Moroccan forces has been overwhelming
Gen. Christopher Donahue, head of U.S. Army Europe and Africa, praised their “tireless, determined, and compassionate” efforts. “Their commitment never wavered, and their willingness to do whatever it took to bring our Soldiers home to their families speaks volumes about the strength of our partnership and the character of those who serve,” he said.
For those who knew Collington, the loss is personal. In a military culture built on brotherhood and resilience, losing someone so young and full of potential is especially difficult. But if there’s any comfort to be found, it’s in the way her unit and the broader military community have rallied around her memory.
(Featured image: U.S. Army photo by Spc. Johnathan Jessop)
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