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Three U.S. Marines have been killed and 5 have been in crucial situation after an Osprey plane crashed in Australia throughout “routine” army workouts, the Marine Corps and authorities within the nation mentioned.
The plane was carrying 23 personnel when it crashed in a distant space of Melville Island, off the coast of Darwin in Australia’s Northern Territory, about 9:30 a.m. on Sunday native time, the Marine Rotational Power-Darwin mentioned in a press release. The 5 injured Marines have been taken to Royal Darwin Hospital.
The reason for the crash is unknown and can be investigated, the assertion mentioned. The Marine Corps didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark early Sunday.
The Marines have been flying in help of Train Predators Run, a joint army train involving troops from Australia, america and different international locations, the power mentioned.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese known as the crash “tragic,” Reuters reported, and Northern Territory Incident Controller Matthew Hollamby known as it “a major incident.” He mentioned in a press release that each one crucial assets can be deployed.
Northern Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyles mentioned Sunday that the plane crashed in a distant space and that no civilians have been injured. She mentioned an emergency response was underway.
“Australia and the U.S. are working collectively to reply to this incident,” she mentioned.
The police commissioner for the Northern Territory, Michael Murphy, mentioned that Melville Island has an extended historical past of serving as a base for army workouts and that an emergency response was activated nearly instantly after the primary reviews of a crash.
The U.S. Marine Corps primarily makes use of the MV-22B Osprey — a tilt-rotor plane that takes off and lands vertically like a helicopter and is able to transitioning in midair to fly like a fixed-wing airplane — to move troops and gear.
However the plane’s security document has come underneath scrutiny within the wake of a number of lethal crashes.
In June of final 12 months, 5 Marines have been killed when their Osprey crashed close to Glamis, Calif., simply north of the Mexican border.
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Three months earlier, an Osprey crashed throughout NATO workouts in Norway, killing 4 American service members.
4 U.S. service members killed in Norway plane crash throughout NATO train
In 2017, a Marine Osprey crashed in Syria, injuring two. That 12 months, a crash in Australia additionally left three Marines lifeless. One of many deadliest Osprey crashes got here in April 2000, when all 19 Marines aboard perished.
The newest incident comes a few month after 4 Australian troopers have been killed when their MRH-90 Taipan helicopter crashed off the coast of Queensland in jap Australia. That crash occurred throughout one other joint army coaching train with U.S. forces, Talisman Sabre.
Alex Horton and Andrew Jeong contributed to this report.