US military aircraft crash over the Tiwi Islands, Northern Territory
Three marines have been killed after an aircraft crash in a remote part of the NT, while the conditions of the 20 others on board remains unclear.
Northern Territory
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Three American marines have been killed in a horror crash during a military exercise off the coast of the Northern Territory.
The Marine Rotational Force Darwin confirmed three of their personnel had died, while another five were flown to Royal Darwin Hospital in serious condition following an Osprey crash over the Tiwi Islands at 9.43am, Sunday.
He said the aircraft, with 23 personnel on board went down while transporting troops during a routine training exercise, known as Predators Run, near Pickataramoor, Melville Island, 80km north of Darwin.
“Recovery efforts are ongoing,” a MRF spokesman said.
“The cause of the incident is under investigation.
“Further details will be provided as the situation develops.”
There were no Australians on board the MV-22 Osprey.
Incident Controller Matthew Hollamby APM said it was “a significant incident”.
“The community can (be) rest assured we are working with Defence and deploying all resourcing necessary,” he said.
“Our thoughts are with the family of the deceased and with all those currently in hospital, we wish them a fast and full recovery.
“I would also like to commend the actions of all the frontline workers deployed to the island and to the hardworking members at Royal Darwin Hospital who are currently treating an influx of patients.”
NT Chief Minister Natasha Fyles has confirmed five marines were immediately flown to Royal Darwin Hospital, while the remaining injured people were being triaged at the scene.
Ms Fyles said one marine was in a critical condition and “in theatre being operated on” while another four were getting treatment at the Darwin hospital.
“Some people are critically injured,” she said.
It is unclear if the marines will be transferred to interstate hospitals for further treatment.
It is understood all those on board were from the Marine Rotational Force, based in Darwin.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said he was not yet able to confirm if anyone remained unaccounted for in the wake of the “regrettable” incident.
“The initial reports suggest that the incident involves just US Defence Force personnel, that there are no members of the Australian Defence Force involved in this incident,” Mr Albanese said.
“Our focus as a government and as the Department of Defence is very much on the incident response, and on making sure every single assistance is given at this difficult time.”
Mr Albanese said the government would provide more information as it was confirmed.
“We obviously want to make sure that any information that is provided is absolutely accurate,” he said.
“We do follow protocols at a time like this and the Australian Defence Force is co-operating with our friends in the United States Defence Force to make sure that we provide every assistance possible.”
Ms Fyles confirmed that the entire Royal Darwin Hospital had been placed in a Code Brown, a nationally recognised emergency alert usually reserved for natural disasters and mass casualty events.
She said there were three operating wards ready and the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre had been stood up for the arrival of the remaining patients.
Not good… possibly a US Marines MV-22B Osprey down on Melville Island off Darwin. This is an unconfirmed report…
— cqplanespotting (@cqplanespotting) August 27, 2023
A RAAF C-130 has been circling the area for some time and a Careflight helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft are also on scene. pic.twitter.com/egnhJs6wJ4
Police Commissioner Michael Murphy said military personnel were the first on scene, but civilian flight services were assisting in airlifting the injured marines from the remote location.
Mr Murphy said an 2km exclusion zone had been established around the crash site.
A Department of Defence spokeswoman has confirmed the Predators Run exercise has been paused following the crash.
“At this critical early stage, our focus is on the incident response and ensuring the safety of those involved,” he said.
An emergency radio broadcast overheard the call between two operators saying there was fire.
US voice: “We are declaring an emergency. We have a (unintelligible) track one one flight in the vicinity of Melville Island”
AUS voice: “Search and rescue is requesting if there is fire”
US voice: “Confirmed. There is a significant fire in the vicinity of the crash site, it looks like it is not spreading.”
The ‘Predators Run’ involves around 2500 soldiers, including roughly 500 US marines, 120 soldiers from the Philippines Armed Forces, 120 from the Indonesian Defence Force and about 50 from the Timor-Leste Defence Force operating across Darwin Harbour and Tiwi Islands.
Solomon MP and veteran Luke Gosling said the region’s thoughts were with “our US Allies and friends, in particular those who have been injured and all the families”.
“We share strong defence ties with the US and I am proud of the emergency search and rescue response provided by the US and our Territory and Australian frontline personnel,” he said.
“We wish the injured a speedy recovery as we remember the US Marine Corps motto ‘Semper Fidelis’ – ‘Always Faithful’.”
The US Ospreys have a tarnished history, having been dubbed the a “death trap” and “widow-maker” after a history of accidents.
The aircraft are designed to be able to takeoff like a helicopter but have the speed and range of a conventional plane, however according to the Aviation Safety Network there have been 45 crashes involving the Ospreys, including 10 fatal flights and a total of 50 casualties since 1991.
In 2017 three US marines died during a military training exercise in Australia when a MV-22 Osprey carrying 26 crew members attempted to land on a USS Green Bay transport ship but slid into the water off the coast of Queensland at Shoalwater Bay.
The remaining 23 members of the crew were rescued following that incident.
The latest reported crash comes just weeks after four Australian servicemen were killed when their military helicopter crashed during a separate training exercise off the Queensland coast.
The helicopter, known as Taipan, was engaged in a two-helicopter mission as part of Exercise Talisman Sabre.
Human remains, and parts of the MRH-90 chopper, were recovered from the sea near Hamilton Island in early August.
The four men killed in the crash were Captain Daniel Lyon, Lieutenant Maxwell Nugent, Corporal Alexander Naggs and Warrant Officer Class Two Joseph Phillip Laycock.
More to come.
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