Three US Marines died in an aircraft crash off the northern coast of Australia on Sunday. According to officials cited by Reuters, the incident occurred during a routine military exercise.
The Marines were involved in transporting troops when the tragedy unfolded.
Five others were “transported to Royal Darwin Hospital in serious condition”, Marine Rotation Force – Darwin stated in a press release.
During the crash, 23 Marines were on board the MV-22B Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft. The statement confirmed that investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the crash.
According to the statement, The crash occurred on the remote Tiwi Islands at around 9:30 a.m. (0130 GMT).
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese described the incident as “tragic.” He mentioned that Osprey supported the Exercise Predators Run 2023 military exercise. He clarified that no Australian personnel were part of the crash.
“Our focus as a government and as a department of defence is very much on incident response and on making sure that every support and assistance is given at this difficult time,” the prime minister told a previously scheduled press conference in Western Australia.
Around 2,500 personnel from Australia, the U.S., the Philippines, Indonesia, and East Timor participated in the exercises, as reported by Reuters. The U.S. and Australia have strengthened their military collaboration due to heightened concerns about China’s assertiveness in the Pacific region.
In a joint statement, Australian Prime Minister Albanese and Defence Minister Richard Marles emphasized the long-standing partnership between Australian and U.S. personnel. The incident highlighted the importance of the service rendered by both nations and their partners.
Last month, Reuters reported that four Australian soldiers lost their lives in a helicopter crash during bilateral exercises off the coast of Queensland as reported by Reuters.
