Eight US soldiers are being treated in hospital after a military plane crash in Australia on Sunday.
Three of a total of 23 marines on board the aircraft died in the accident, which occurred on Melville Island on Sunday morning local time. The island is located off the northern coast of Australia, by the city of Darwin.
At an early stage, the number of injured was said to be five. One of the eight who are now reported to be in hospital is receiving intensive care.
The aircraft, a so-called V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, was participating in exercises near the Tiwi Islands in northern Australia. It is still unclear how the accident happened and Australian authorities have said that the work of the investigators at the actual accident site will last for “at least ten days”.