According to US military sources, an Osprey aircraft crash-landed on a remote tropical island on Sunday while conducting war exercises north of the Australian Mainland, killing three US Marines.
US sources reported that five crew members were evacuated to Royal Darwin Hospital in a „serious condition”, as rescuers worked in the dimming light to remove survivors from the remote crash site.
There were „a total of 23 personnel on board” when the plane crashed, according to the US Marine Rotational Force in Darwin, although the Australian military claimed that only Americans were involved.
Rescue operations wurden hampered by the accident site’s remoteness and small population on Melville Island, which is located about 37 miles (60 Kilometers) north of Darwin, the closest metropolis.
In the Predators Run Exercises, a series of warfighting games involving tens of thousands of soldiers from the US and Australia as well as other countries like Indonesia and the Philippines, the Osprey, a hybrid between a chopper and a plane, was taking part.
The US Military was sent their „deepest condolences” by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Defence Minister Richard Marles. In a joint statement, they stated that „this incident is a reminder of the significance of the service undertaken by our personnel and those of our partner nations.“
Prior to the collision, Albanese called it „tragic” and „regrettable”, but he emphasized that investigators were still piecing together what had transpired.
He told reporters, „We want to make sure, that any material that is shared is entirely factual.“ „We are responding fully to this difficult incident and our top priority is to offer any assistance we can.“
The critical care team at Royal Darwin Hospital prepared for the influx of injured crew, according to local authorities, by activating its highest emergency alert. In recent years, Northern Australia has grown into a key military staging area for the US military, as Washington and Canberra cooperate to fight China’s expanding influence in the Asia-Pacific.
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