On August 27, 2023, a US Marine Corps Osprey V-22 aircraft crashed on Melville Island, a north Australian island, during a multinational training exercise. The crash resulted in the death of at least three Marines and critically injured at least five others. The aircraft had 23 Marines on board at the time of the crash.
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The cause of the crash is currently under investigation and recovery efforts are ongoing. A U.S. military official reported to Australian air traffic controllers that there was a “significant fire in the vicinity of the crash site”. Melville resident Shane Murphy, who was fishing from a beach when the Osprey crashed, told Australian Broadcasting Corp. that he saw a “big mushroom of black smoke” rise from the wreckage.
The crash occurred during Exercise Predators Run, which involved the militaries of the United States, Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and East Timor. The exercise has been paused since the crash. Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and injured Marines. He stated, “Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the three U.S. service personnel who lost their lives, those who have been injured, the rest of the crew, and indeed the entire United States armed forces”.
This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the risks that military personnel face while serving their country. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of those affected by this tragedy.