The CV-22 is the Special Operation Forces variant of the U.S. Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey. The first two test aircraft were delivered to Edwards Air Force Base, California in September 2000. The 58th Special Operations Wing at Kirtland AFB, New Mexico began CV-22 aircrew training with the first two production aircraft in August 2006. The first operational CV-22 was delivered to Air Force Special Operations Command in January 2007. Initial operational capability was achieved in 2009. A total of 54 CV-22 aircraft are scheduled to be delivered by the end of 2021.
Tragic details are emerging about a helicopter crash that killed three US Marines north of Darwin on Sunday.
Three US Marines died Sunday north of Darwin after an Osprey helicopter crashed on a remote tropical island during war games, US military officials said.
Five Marines had been rescued from the crash site and flown to a hospital in Darwin in a “serious condition”, the US officials said, while Australian police said they were triaging the rest of the injured crew at the scene.
“There were a total of 23 personnel on board,” US military officials said in a statement.
“Three have been confirmed deceased while five others were transported to Royal Darwin Hospital in a serious condition.”
Rescue efforts were complicated by the location of the crash — the remote and sparsely populated Melville Island about 60 kilometres (37 miles) north of the Australian mainland.
“Recovery efforts are ongoing,” US officials said, adding that an investigation into the cause of the incident had been launched.
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.
And 19 Marines died in 2000 when their Osprey crashed during drills in Arizona. The US Army earlier this year temporarily grounded all pilots who were not involved in critical missions, forcing them to complete further training after a series of safety incidents.
Ospreys are rapidly quick tilt-rotor aircraft that combine the features of both helicopters and turboprop planes, according to the US Air Force.
The hybrid aircraft has two swivelling engines positioned on fixed wingtips that allow it to land and take off vertically, but also travel much faster than a conventional helicopter.
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.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese: Earlier today a United States Marine Corps MV-22 Osprey crashed on Melville Island, north of Darwin, while supporting Exercise Predators Run 2023.
Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the three US service personnel who lost their lives, those who have been injured, the rest of the crew and indeed the entire United States armed forces.
Australian Defence Force personnel in the Northern Territory are providing support to our US partners. No Australian personnel were involved in the incident.
Australian and US personnel have stood shoulder to shoulder for more than a century. Our Alliance is built upon these enduring links and our shared values.
This incident is a reminder of the significance of the service undertaken by our personnel and those of our partner nations. Australia will continue to provide assistance to our friends for as long as is required.