SYDNEY — Three US Marines died in an plane crash off the coast of northern Australia on Sunday whereas transporting troops throughout a routine navy train, officers mentioned.
Five others have been “transported to Royal Darwin Hospital in serious condition,” Marine Rotation Force-Darwin mentioned in a press launch.
They have been amongst 23 Marines on the MV-22B Osprey tilt-rotor plane when it crashed, the assertion mentioned, including the reason for the crash was being investigated.
The crash occurred on the distant Tiwi Islands at roughly 9.30 a.m. (0130 GMT), the assertion mentioned.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese referred to as the incident “tragic,” saying the Osprey was supporting the Exercise Predators Run 2023 navy train. No Australian personnel weren’t concerned within the crash, he mentioned.
“Our focus as a government and as a department of defense is very much on incident response and on making sure that every support and assistance is given at this difficult time,” the prime minister advised a beforehand scheduled press convention in Western Australia.
About 2,500 personnel from Australia, the US, the Philippines, Indonesia and East Timor have been participating within the workout routines.
The US and Australia, a key ally within the Pacific, have been stepping up navy cooperation lately within the face of an more and more assertive China.
“Australian and US personnel have stood shoulder to shoulder for more than a century,” Albanese and the Defence Minister Richard Marles mentioned in a press release.
“This incident is a reminder of the significance of the service undertaken by our personnel and those of our partner nations.”
Four Australian troopers have been killed final month throughout massive bilateral workout routines when their helicopter crashed into the ocean off the coast of Queensland. — Reuters
Source: www.gmanetwork.com
