5 Presumed Dead After US Military Aircraft Crashes in California

Long Beach Fire Department in Long Beach, Calif., on Nov. 1, 2021. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

IMPERIAL COUNTY, Calif.—A U.S. Military aircraft carrying five passengers crashed during a training flight June 8 in California, possibly killing the passengers.

All five are presumed dead, according to local reports.

The MV-22B Osprey went down during a training flight in the early afternoon near Glamis, east of Brawley, according to the Third Marine Aircraft Wing headquartered in Miramar, San Diego.

Initial reports indicated the aircraft also carried radioactive and nuclear material, but Naval Air Facility El Centro said otherwise.

An MV-22B Osprey fly's over Anaheim, Calif., on March 24, 2021. John Fredricks/The Epoch Times

“Contrary to initial reports, there was no nuclear material on board the aircraft. More information will be made available as we receive it,” Naval Air Facility El Centro wrote on Facebook.

Installation Federal Fire, Imperial County Fire Department, and the U.S. Military responded to the scene.

The cause of the crash remains unknown.

“We have no additional details at this time. As facts become verified and available, information will be released on the base’s Facebook page. Please be patient as the installation team works through this emergency,” Naval Air Facility El Centro said in a Facebook post.