US military aircraft goes down off NT coast with 23 aboard
A combination of helicopter and fixed-wing aircraft, the Osprey has figured in a series of deadly incidents. Photo: AAP
A United States military officer has been critically injured and others have been rescued after their aircraft crashed off the Northern Territory coast during a training drill.
The Boeing MV-22B Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft is believed to have been carrying 23 American personnel when it went down on Melville Island, with emergency services called to respond shortly before 10am local time on Sunday.
Three personnel were transported by Careflight to Royal Darwin Hospital, one in a critical condition and the other two stable.
No fatalities have been reported and there is no indication Australian personnel were involved.
No Australians involved
The Department of Defence said the incident occurred during Exercise Predator’s Run 2023.
“Initial reports suggest the incident involves United States defence personnel and that Australian Defence Force members were not involved,” a Defence spokesperson said.
“At this critical early stage, our focus is on the incident response and ensuring the safety of those involved.”
About 150 US marines are stationed in Darwin and taking part in military drills alongside personnel from Australia and the Philippines.
NT Police confirmed they had responded to the incident.
Troubled history
The Osprey has figured in a number of crashes and has been a controversial weapons platform since it was conceived more than 30 years ago.
The aircraft takes off vertically like a helicopter, then tilts it rotors into the vertical position to fly like a plane.
Production delays and congressional criticism of the revolutionary tilt-rotor system almost saw the Osprey scrapped.
