Body of U.S. soldier who died during African Lion in Morocco finally returned home

The body of U.S. Army Specialist Mariyah Collington, a 19-year-old soldier who died during African Lion military training deployment in Morocco last month, was returned to her hometown in Central Florida on Wednesday.

On Wednesday, a flag-draped casket carrying Collington’s remains arrived at Orlando Executive Airport, where family members gathered to receive her. Residents and supporters also lined the route to a funeral home in Apopka to pay tribute to the young soldier, local media reported.

Family members described the loss as devastating. They said Collington had spoken with relatives by video call the day before the accident while celebrating her older brother’s graduation from the University of Florida.

A public celebration of her life is scheduled for June 13 in Florida.

Collington was one of two American soldiers reported missing on May 2 near a cliff at Cap Draa, in southern Morocco. Her body was recovered on May 12 during joint search operations conducted by Morocco’s Royal Armed Forces (FAR) and the U.S. Armed Forces.

According to the FAR General Staff, the body was spotted and recovered roughly 500 meters from the site of the incident. The operation involved Moroccan military personnel, Civil Protection teams and U.S. forces, supported by land, sea and air search units.

Following a ceremony honoring the two deceased American soldiers at the military airport in Guelmim, their remains were repatriated aboard a U.S. military aircraft on May 12.