Eight US marines were in hospital on Monday — one of them in intensive care — following a military aircraft crash in northern Australia that killed three of their comrades, authorities said.
Twenty-three marines were on board the Boeing MV-22B Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft when it crashed on Melville Island, north of Darwin, on Sunday morning during a military exercise for locally based troops.
Northern Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyles said eight marines were still receiving treatment and that she wanted to “assure their families that they are getting the best care possible and we’re working to ensure they’re supported”.
Authorities have launched an investigation into what caused the crash, and efforts are also underway to recover the remains of the three dead marines.
Northern Territory Police Commissioner Michael Murphy told reporters the recovery and investigation would be “prolonged, enduring and complex”, adding that officials were expecting to be at the crash site for “at least 10 days”.
“Absolutely everything” was being dedicated in terms of resources, he said.
He had earlier told local media that the aircraft hit the ground in “heavy bushland” but emergency responders were helped in their initial efforts by the location of a nearby airstrip.
Being able to land so close to the crash site had allowed casualties to be treated more quickly and “probably saved some lives”, he said.
Air traffic control broadcasts from Darwin airport after the incident included communications from the site describing dark smoke and a “significant fire”, but Murphy said he could not comment on why the Osprey had crashed.
– Exercise resumes –
“Predators Run” — the exercise the marines had been participating in — was paused on Sunday, but an Australian defence official told AFP that it had resumed on Monday morning.
There will, however, be no more exercise activities taking place on the Tiwi Islands, the small group of islands that includes Melville, the scene of the crash.
Northern Australia has become an important staging ground for the US military in recent years, as Washington and Canberra work together to counter China’s growing clout in the Asia-Pacific region.
Australian defence minister Richard Marles told public broadcaster ABC on Monday morning that the loss of life would be felt by US and Australian forces.
“These are very tight-knit communities,” he said.
US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin praised the fallen marines, who he said “served our country with courage and pride, and my thoughts and prayers are with their families today, with the other troops who were injured in the crash, and with the entire (US Marine Corps) family”.
The Osprey aircraft has a troubled history, blighted by a string of fatal crashes over the years.
Four US marines were killed in Norway last year when their V-22B Osprey aircraft went down during NATO training exercises.
Three marines were killed in 2017 when an Osprey crashed after clipping the back of a transport ship while trying to land at sea off Australia’s north coast.
And 19 marines died in 2000 when their Osprey crashed during drills in Arizona.
Prime Minister-elect Srettha Thavisin confirmed on Monday morning that his cabinet list has already completed after long night discussion both inside his Pheu Thai party and among coalition parties.
“Today, the Secretariate of the Cabinet will come to receive the cabinet namelist for checking the qualifications. Please wait and be patient,” Srettha said at Pheu Thai headquarters.
For the position of Defence Minister, Srettha reiterated that when the name is revealed, no one will be disappointed.
Many names have been tipped to be appointed as the Defence minister, including Pheu Thai partylist MP Sutin Klungsang and former National Security Council secretary general General Nattaphon Narkphanit.
Asked if the defence minister under him will be acceptable from both civilians and the military, Srettha said people should look at his performance and his leadership. “Whoever who is chosen by the coalition parties will surely fully work for the country and the people.” He said.
“There would be those whose wishes for a ministerial position are granted while some others are not. This is normal but I will do my best for everyone to get the positions. There are other positions for them like advisors and secretaries who would work together for better performance,” said Srettha.
Srettha said he personally did not know for sure when he could submit the cabinet list for royal approval, saying he is new but his cabinet members’ background examination may take a few days.
“Anyway, I believe I can declare our policies in the parliament sooner than mid of September. We have in hands our policies to be declared,” he said.
Asked whether the process will finish in time for him to attend the UN General Assembly meeting in the US scheduled around the end of next month, Srettha said he has to check the process as as a new prime minister, he should visit Asean countries first.
However the UNGA meeting is a major gathering that he would have opportunities to meet and discuss business cooperations with the world leaders.
by Agence France Presse
