New Delhi: Three US marines were killed and 20 others injured after an aircraft of the US Marine Corps crashed during a training operation in Australia on Sunday, news agency AP reported. The incident took place in Melville Island around 9.30am local time.
According to the report, three died on spot while five of 23 others on board the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft were rushed to the Royal Darwin Hospital in the city.
“The Marines aboard the aircraft were flying in support of Exercise Predators Run. Recovery efforts are ongoing. The cause of the incident is under investigation,” a statement issued by the US Marine Corps read.
According to Northern Territory Police Commissioner Michael Murphy, helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft have been deployed for the rescue operation. One of the injured is undergoing surgery, AP quoted Northern Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyles as saying.
“We acknowledge that this is a terrible incident. The Northern Territory government stands by to offer whatever assistance is required,” she said as quoted by the news agency.
Expressing his condolence, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement, “The initial reports suggest that the incident involves just U.S. defence force personnel. Our focus as a government and as the department of defence is very much on incident response and on making sure that every support and assistance is given at this difficult time.”
According to the AP report, a similar incident took place in July when the US military was taking part in a training exercise. Four Australian military personnel were killed when the army MRH-90 helicopter crashed off the northeast Australian coast.
Earlier in 2022, five US Marines were killed after their MV-22B Osprey aircraft crashed during a training mission near Glamis, California. Before that, four US service members died when their Osprey aircraft crashed during NATO training exercises in Norway, CNN reported.