The United State Military has confirmed that at least three of its personnel were killed when a Marine helicopter crashed during a training exercise off the northern coast of Australia
Officials with the Marine Rotational Force-Darwin confirmed the development in a statement issued on Sunday, 27 August, 2023.
The Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey was carrying 23 service members when it went down at about 9:30 a.m. near the Tiwi Islands, in the Northern Territory of Australia, “officials said in the statement.
Five other service members were taken to the Royal Darwin Hospital in serious condition, the statement.
The Osprey had been transporting troops as part of a “routine training exercise” in support of Exercise Predators Run, a joint military exercise, officials said.
Recovery efforts were ongoing, officials said. The cause of the crash had not yet been determined.
U.S. Army officials in April had ordered a 24-hour stand-down of all aviation units following two deadly mid-air helicopter collisions within 30 days.
“The safety of our aviators is our top priority, and this stand-down is an important step to make certain we are doing everything possible to prevent accidents and protect our personnel,” Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville said in a statement announcing the stand-down.
