An osprey aircraft crashed on a remote tropical island north of Australia during military exercises, resulting in the deaths of three US Marines, according to US military officials.
Following the crash, five Marines were successfully rescued from the site and transported to a hospital in Darwin in serious condition, while Australian authorities attended to the remaining injured crew members at the scene.
A statement from US military officials confirmed that a total of 23 individuals were on board during the incident. “Three have been confirmed deceased, while five others were transported to Royal Darwin Hospital in a serious condition,” the statement detailed.
Efforts to retrieve the wreckage were complicated by the isolated location of the crash on the sparsely populated Melville Island, situated about 60 kilometers north of the Australian mainland.
The cause of the crash is currently under investigation, with recovery operations ongoing, as stated by US officials.
Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, expressed his sorrow over the incident, labeling it as “tragic” and “regrettable.” He emphasized that authorities are actively working to piece together the sequence of events.
The ill-fated Osprey, a hybrid aircraft combining characteristics of helicopters and planes, was participating in the Predators Run joint military exercises, involving troops from the US and Australia, as well as contingents from other nations like Indonesia and the Philippines.
The region of northern Australia has gained significance as a strategic base for US military operations, aimed at addressing the rising influence of China in the Asia-Pacific area.
History of Trouble The Osprey aircraft has a history marked by a series of fatal accidents.
Last year, four US Marines lost their lives in Norway during Nato training exercises when their V-22B Osprey crashed.
In 2017, three Marines were killed off Australia’s north coast as an Osprey crashed into the rear of a transport ship while attempting to land at sea.
In 2000, 19 Marines perished when an Osprey crashed during training in Arizona.
Earlier this year, the US Army temporarily suspended pilots not engaged in critical missions for additional training following a series of safety incidents involving Osprey aircraft.
