Three Marines killed in an aircraft crash during an Australian training exercise

An MV-22B Osprey assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 263 lands aboard the amphibious assault ship USS Wasp (LHD 1). Wasp is conducting flight deck qualifications in preparation for joint strike fighter developmental testing. (U.S. Navy photo by Midshipman 3rd Class Alexandria Segovia/Released)

Chiara Palazzo and Juliane Rodust
dpa

Three US Marines died and five other were seriously wounded in the crash of a military aircraft off Australia’s northern coast during training exercises on Sunday.

There were 23 people on board the MV-22B Osprey aircraft when it went down on Melville Island, the Marine Rotational Force – Darwin said in a statement.

The five Marines who were seriously wounded were transferred to hospital in the mainland city of Darwin.

“The Marines aboard the aircraft were flying in support of Exercise Predators Run. Recovery efforts are ongoing,” the statement said, adding that “the cause of the incident is under investigation.”

Everyone aboard the aircraft were US military personnel, Northern Territory Premier Natasha Fyles said. After the crash, both planes and helicopters were on rescue duty to treat the injured and bring them to Darwin, she said.

At the hospital there, Code Brown was activated – the highest alert level in Australian hospitals.

According to the Australian news agency AAP, about 150 US Marines are stationed in Darwin. They regularly participate in joint military exercises with Australian and Filipino soldiers.

“The Australian defence force are cooperating with our friends at the United States defence force to make sure that we provide every assistance possible,” Fyles said.

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