Politics

Australia, US investigating military plane crash that killed 3 marines

Sydney, Australia, Aug 28 (EFE).- Australia and the United States have initiated an “extensive” investigation into a fatal US military aircraft accident that claimed the lives of three US marines on Sunday after being crashed on the Melville Island in northern Australia during a joint military drill.

“We will work with the US around the jurisdictional basis of the investigations. But we really have to allow those investigations to take place to find out exactly what has happened here,” Australia’s defense minister Richard Marles said in a statement on Monday.

As part of the investigations, US authorities have established “an exclusion zone” around the crash site, barring public and media access.

“Northern Territory Police will remain at the scene for at least ten days as part of the extensive investigation,” deputy commissioner of the California Police Northern Territory Matthew Hollamby said in a statement.

Hollamby said they are currently in the recovery phase to safe and respectfully recover the remains of the three deceased US marines.

“Our thoughts are with those affected by the tragedy, and we will do everything in our power to provide answers and closure to the families and loved ones of those involved,” the police official said.

According to both Australian and US officials, of the 23 US Marines on-board the Osprey aircraft during the crash, eight remain hospitalized in Darwin, with five in critical condition.

The Osprey is a versatile aircraft, functioning as a hybrid of helicopter and airplane and designed for special operations worldwide.

The US Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey crashed on Melville Island, 60 kilometers north of Darwin city, while supporting the military exercise Predator’s Run 2023.

This international military drill involves approximately 2,500 military personnel from Australia, the US, the Philippines, East Timor and Indonesia.

The fatal incident comes almost a month after four Australian soldiers lost their lives in a helicopter crash during a joint military exercise involving 30,000 troops from 13 countries in the country’s northeast. EFE

wat/bks/ia

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