Three US Marines lost their lives and 20 others sustained injuries when an aircraft crashed during a joint-nation training exercise in Australia. The incident occurred on Melville Island during a training exercise involving military personnel from the United States, Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Timor-Leste. The cause of the crash is still being investigated, and recovery efforts are ongoing.
On Sunday, a tragic incident unfolded as an MV-22B Osprey helicopter carrying 23 Marines crashed on Melville Island, located approximately 50 miles from the mainland city of Darwin. The crash occurred at around 9:30 a.m. local time. Out of the 23 Marines on board, three lost their lives, while five seriously injured individuals were airlifted to Royal Darwin Hospital. The remaining injured were evacuated from the remote area by an emergency aircraft.
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) confirmed that no Australian service members were on board the helicopter at the time of the crash. The Northern Territory Chief Minister, Natasha Fyles, expressed her condolences and assured that the government stands ready to provide any necessary assistance. As a result of the incident, all training operations have been temporarily halted.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed his condolences and offered full support to the United States in the aftermath of the tragic crash. He emphasized the government’s focus on incident response and ensuring that every possible support and assistance is provided during this difficult time. The ADF is cooperating with the United States Defense Force to facilitate the investigation and offer assistance.
The MV-22B Osprey, a hybrid aircraft capable of vertical takeoffs and landings, is operated by the US military. The crash occurred during Exercise Predator’s Run 2023, a multi-nation training operation involving approximately 2,500 personnel, including 500 from the United States. The training exercise aims to enhance cooperation and readiness among the participating nations.