Eight US Marines are currently hospitalized in Darwin, Australia after being injured in a fatal crash that took the lives of three of their colleagues. The incident occurred on Melville Island during a multinational training exercise. The remaining 20 survivors were swiftly transported to the Royal Darwin Hospital, with 12 having already been discharged. The conditions of the eight Marines still in the hospital have not been disclosed out of respect for their privacy.
Northern Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyles commended the quick response in getting the injured Marines to the hospital. The crashed aircraft, a Marine V-22 Osprey, was one of two that were part of the Exercise Predators Run mission involving the militaries of the United States, Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and East Timor. All 23 Marines on board the aircraft were stationed in Darwin as part of the Marine Corps’ annual troop rotation. Darwin currently hosts approximately 150 US Marines, with up to 2,500 rotating through the city each year. This realignment of US forces in the Asia-Pacific region is aimed at addressing China’s increasing assertiveness.
According to Northern Territory Police Commissioner Michael Murphy, the bodies of the three deceased Marines will remain at the crash site, which will be kept as an exclusion zone for at least 10 days. The exact cause of the crash is still unknown, and investigators will continue their examination of the site. The Marine Osprey is a unique aircraft that can take off and land like a helicopter but also tilt its propellers forward during flight, allowing for faster cruising like an airplane. Unfortunately, there have been five fatal crashes involving Marine Ospreys since 2012, resulting in a total of 16 deaths. The most recent crash occurred in June 2022 in California, where five Marines lost their lives. A recent crash investigation report attributed this tragedy to a mechanical failure related to a clutch.
The report also revealed that there have been 16 similar clutch problems with Marine Ospreys in flight since 2012. However, since February, the Marine Corps has been replacing a piece of equipment on the aircraft, and no further issues have arisen. Emergency responders were amazed that the death toll from Sunday’s crash was not higher, considering the intense nature of the incident. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin expressed his condolences and paid tribute to the fallen Marines. The US Embassy in Australia also issued a statement extending sympathies to the families and friends of the deceased Marines.
Overall, the collaborative efforts of multiple countries and the swift response of medical professionals in Darwin played a significant role in minimizing the casualties and providing critical care to the injured Marines.
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