Three U.S. Marines Killed in Training Exercise in Australia – Watch
Three U.S. Marines were killed and several others injured during a training exercise in Australia on Saturday after an American MV-22B Osprey aircraft carrying the troops crashed, wounding several others, according to officials. The incident occurred at the Shoalwater Bay Training Area, located in Queensland.
The aircraft was carrying 23 U.S. Marines when it crashed at roughly 9:30 a.m. local time on Melville Island, twenty Marines were injured in the crash, and five in serious condition were flown to a town 50 miles away for treatment, according to a report from the Associated Press.
“Marine Rotational Force – Darwin can confirm a U.S. Marine Corps MV-22B Osprey crash on Melville Island, north of Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, while transporting troops during a routine training exercise,” the Marine Rotational Force in Darwin (MRF-D) said in a press release.
There was a “significant fire in the vicinity of the crash site,” according to an audio recording of an American official’s report to Australian air traffic controllers following the incident, the AP reported.
The “routine training exercise” was in support of Exercise Predators Run, a multi-nation military exercise comprised of the United States, Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and East Timor.
“The initial reports suggest that the incident involves just U.S. defense force personnel,” Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said. “Our focus as a government and as the department of defense is very much on incident response and on making sure that every support and assistance is given at this difficult time.”
it’s unclear what caused the incident, this isn’t the first time the Osprey aircraft has been involved in a fatal crash. Since 2012, there have been five fatal crashes involving Marine Osprey aircraft, according to the AP.
This incident is a reminder of the dangers that Marines face every day in training and in combat. It is also a reminder of the sacrifices that they and their families make in service to our country.
‼️MV-22B OSPREY CRASH‼️
📍AUSTRALIA 🇦🇺
🚨 3 US Marines killed, 20 injured after aircraft crash in Australia during training exercise
Three U.S. Marines died and 20 others were injured after a Marine Corps aircraft crashed in Australia during a training exercise Sunday,… pic.twitter.com/K8FgUtKDo5
— {Matt} $XRPatriot (@matttttt187) August 27, 2023
