Australia’s DARWIN: Three US Marines were killed Sunday when an Osprey aircraft crashed during war drills on a remote tropical island north of Australia, according to US military sources.
According to US sources, five Marines were recovered from the accident site and taken to a hospital in Darwin in “serious condition,” while Australian police claimed they were triaging the rest of the injured crew at the scene.
“There were a total of 23 personnel on board,” according to a statement from US military sources.
“Three people have been confirmed dead, while five others were taken to Royal Darwin Hospital in critical condition.”
The disaster occurred on Melville Island, which is remote and little populated, about 60 kilometers (37 miles) north of the Australian mainland.
“Recovery efforts are ongoing,” US authorities stated, adding that an inquiry into the incident’s cause had begun.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the incident “tragic” and “regrettable,” but said investigators were still attempting to figure out what transpired.
“We want to make sure that any information provided is absolutely accurate,” he told reporters.
The Osprey, a hybrid of a helicopter and a plane, was participating in the Predators Run exercises, a combined series of warfighting drills involving thousands of soldiers from the United States, Australia, and other nations such as Indonesia and the Philippines.
Northern Australia has become an increasingly vital staging area for US military operations in recent years, as Washington and Canberra collaborate to challenge China’s expanding weight in the Asia-Pacific region.
The Osprey aircraft has a tumultuous past, marred by a series of catastrophic collisions throughout the years.
Last year, four US Marines were killed in Norway when their V-22B Osprey plane crashed during NATO training operations.
In 2017, three Marines were killed after an Osprey collided with the back of a transport ship while attempting to land at sea off Australia’s north coast.
In addition, 19 Marines were killed in an Osprey crash in Arizona in 2000.
Following a series of safety issues, the US Army temporarily grounded all pilots who were not participating in vital missions early this year, forcing them to complete additional training.
According to the US Air Force, Ospreys are fast tilt-rotor aircraft that combine qualities of both helicopters and turboprop planes.
The hybrid aircraft includes two swiveling engines mounted on fixed wingtips, allowing it to land and take off vertically while also traveling far quicker than a traditional helicopter.
Last month, four Australians died in a catastrophic training disaster when their Taipan chopper crashed into the sea during a series of multinational war simulations in Queensland.
The Taipan had been participating in the large-scale Talisman Sabre exercise, which drew 30,000 military troops from Australia, the United States, and other countries.
It crashed near the Whitsunday Islands during a midnight mission.
Source: AFP