A US military plane crashed in Australia during joint military exercises. The cause of the accident is not yet known.
STT-,
Leonard Wilhelmus
Three US Marines have been confirmed dead after a military aircraft crashed during a training exercise in Australia’s Northern Territory on Sunday. The representatives of the US military tell about it in their statement.
Five people have been transported to the hospital in a serious condition, the statement says. There were a total of 23 soldiers on the plane. Earlier, local police said that five people had been sent to hospital and one of them was in critical condition.
Authorities have confirmed, according to the Australian broadcasting company ABC, that rescue operations are being carried out near Melville Island, 60 kilometers north of the city of Darwin. The remote location of the crash site has hampered rescue efforts.
Representatives of the US military say that rescue operations are still ongoing. An investigation has also been launched to find out the cause of the accident.
Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese called the accident “tragic”, but emphasized that the exact course of events is still being investigated.
The Australian Department of Defense confirmed the aircraft was carrying US defense personnel. The Ministry of Defense also said there did not appear to be any Australian soldiers on board.
The aircraft was participating in joint military exercises by several countries near the Tiwi Islands, north of the city of Darwin.
According to ABC, more than 2,500 soldiers from the United States, Australia, the Philippines, East Timor and Indonesia are participating in the Predators Run exercises.
Last month, four Australian soldiers died in a helicopter crash during a joint exercise between Australia and the United States. The countries have intensified their military cooperation in recent years.
Sources: AFP, Reuters