Three American marines were killed in the accident of their Osprey, a hybrid device capable of taking off vertically like a helicopter and flying like an airplane, which crashed on Sunday August 27 on a remote tropical island in the north of the Australian continent, announced a member of their staff.
“There were a total of 23 people on board. Three died and five others were injured and are in serious condition, have been taken to the Royal Darwin Hospital”, he said in a press release. The other injured are treated at the scene.
The craft was taking part in American-Australian maneuvers. The isolation of the accident site, which occurred on Melville Island, located about 60 kilometers north of the Australian coast, complicated the task of rescuers.
“Rescue operations continue”, US authorities said, adding that an investigation was underway. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese spoke of an accident “tragic” And “regrettable”. The machine participated in the exercises called “Predators Run”, a series of military maneuvers organized jointly by the American and Australian armies.
In recent years, the United States military has increased its presence in northern Australia as the two powers seek to challenge China’s growing influence in the Asia-Pacific region.
Controversial gear
The Osprey aircraft, resulting from a cooperation between the aircraft manufacturer Boeing and the helicopter specialist Bell, have two engines at the end of the wings, which pivot to switch to helicopter mode to take off, or to airplane mode to fly faster. Their reliability has been called into question following several fatal accidents.
In 2022, four US Marines were killed in Norway when their V-22B Osprey crashed during North Atlantic Treaty Organization exercises. In 2017, a US Army Osprey crashed into the sea after hitting the stern of a ship during a US-Australia military exercise, killing three people. In April 2000, 19 Marines were killed when an Osprey crashed during training in Arizona.
Earlier this year, the US military temporarily grounded all pilots not flying essential missions, requiring them to undergo additional training following a series of incidents.
Military exercises in Australia have already left four Australians dead in July, when a Tajan helicopter crashed into the sea as part of the maneuvers dubbed “Talisman Saber”, which brought together 30,000 Australian, American and other soldiers. other powers in the region. It crashed near the Whitsunday Islands while taking part in a night operation.