Three US Marines were killed and 20 others were injured after their plane crashed in northern Australia during normal training, according to the US military.
According to a statement issued by Marine Rotational Force Darwin, a U.S. The Boeing MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft of the Marine Task Force crashed on Melville Island, north of Darwin in Australia's Northern Territory, at 9:30 a.m. Sunday evening, local time.
During a regular training exercise, the tiltrotor aircraft was hauling 23 Americans.
Three deaths have been verified.
Five others were in critical condition and were airlifted 80 kilometers (50 miles) to Darwin for medical treatment.
“The Marines aboard the aircraft were flying in support of Exercise Predators Run,” the release stated. “Recovery efforts are ongoing. The cause of the incident is under investigation. Further details will be provided as the situation develops.”
According to Northern Territory Police Commissioner Michael Murphy, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft were employed to remove the remaining injured from the remote location.
Mr. Murphy pointed out that the wrecked Osprey was one of two that had flown from Darwin to Melville on Sunday.
Around six hours after the incident, Northern Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyles stated one of the injured was receiving surgery at the Royal Darwin Hospital.
She went on to say that several of the passengers were badly injured and were being triaged when they arrived at Darwin's airport.
“We acknowledge that this is a terrible incident,” Ms. Fyles said. “The Northern Territory government stands by to offer whatever assistance is required.”
Exercise Predators Run 2023 drew over 2,500 troops from the United States, Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and East Timor.
Melville is an island in the Tiwi Islands.
Darwin currently has 150 U.S. Marines, and around 2,500 of them pass through the city each year.
Anthony Albanese, Australia's Prime Minister, described the occurrence as "tragic."
He stated that no Australians were involved in the crash. "The initial reports indicate that the incident involves only US defense force personnel," the prime minister said during a press conference in Western Australia.
“Our focus as a government and as a department of defense is very much on incident response and on making sure that every support and assistance is given at this difficult time,” he added.
Mr. Albanese and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles both sent statements of condolence.
“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the three U.S. service personnel who lost their loved ones, those who have been injured, the rest of the crew, and indeed the entire United States armed forces,” he said.
“Australian and U.S. personnel have stood shoulder to shoulder for more than a century. Our Alliance is built upon these enduring links and our shared values,” the statement reads. “This incident is a reminder of the significance of the service undertaken by our personnel and those of our partner nations. Australia will continue to provide assistance to our friends for as long as is required.”
In response to a more muscular Chinese Communist Party in the Pacific, the United States and Australia have lately increased military cooperation.
Four Australians were murdered in July during huge international military exercises in which the US military also took part. Their helicopter, an army MRH-90 Taipan, had fallen into the water off Queensland's coast.
