Three US Marines dead, 20 hurt in joint drills

MV-22B Osprey tiltrotor aircraft flying in formation. File pic/AP

A US Marine Corps aircraft crashed on a north Australian island on Sunday, killing three Marines and injuring 20 during a multination training exercise, officials said.

Three had been confirmed dead on Melville Island and five of the 23 on board were flown in serious condition 80 km to the mainland city of Darwin for hospital treatment after the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft crashed around 9.30 am local time, a statement from the Marines said.

"Recovery efforts are ongoing," the statement said, adding the cause of the crash was under investigation. Helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft had been deployed to return from the remote location with the rest of the injured.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said only Americans were injured in the crash when happened during Exercise Predators Run, which involves the militaries of the United States, Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines and East Timor.

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