Three US marines are dead and 20 are injured, five seriously, after a US aircraft crashed on the Tiwi Islands near Darwin during a multinational military exercise, authorities have confirmed.
Marine Rotational Force Darwin, a United States Marine Corps Marine Air-Ground Task Force based in the NT said the incident happened at 9.30am on Sunday.
“There were a total of 23 personnel on board,” it said, in a statement.
“Three have been confirmed deceased while five others were transported to Royal Darwin Hospital in serious condition.”
Air traffic control recordings revealed the pilot declaring an emergency.
“We are just declaring an emergency on behalf of dumptruck 11 flight single MV 22 in the vicinity of Melville Island,” they said.
