President Biden Honours US Marines Killed off Darwin Coast

Cause yet to be disclosed for crash that killed 3 US Marines

Osprey Aircraft Carl Court/Getty Images

U.S. President Joe Biden released a statement via X (formerly Twitter) on Aug. 28 about the victims of the deadly aircraft crash off the Darwin coast that killed three U.S. Marines.

“Jill and I send our deepest condolences to the families of the Marines who lost their lives in this deadly crash. We are praying for those who also suffered injuries,” the statement reads.

Three U.S. Marines were killed in an aircraft crash in Australia during a training exercise on the Tiwi Islands at 9:30 a.m. on Aug. 27, with an additional five Marines being flown to Royal Darwin Hospital in serious condition.

Overnight, rescue and recovery teams worked on Melville Island, 80 kilometres north of Darwin, in response to the tragic incident.

Experts are currently in the process of investigating the factors that led to the crash of the U.S. military Boeing MV-22B Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft, which was carrying a total of 23 Marines.

The cause of the accident is yet to be determined, with U.S. officials saying it’s too soon to say whether the accident was due to a mechanical failure or some other issue.

No Australian Defence Force personnel were injured in the incident.

Tragic Incident a Reminder of the Significant Risks Undertaken by Defence

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the incident was “tragic” at a scheduled press conference in Western Australia on Aug. 27.

“Our focus as a government and as a department of defence is very much on incident response and on making sure that every support and assistance is given at this difficult time,” he said.

In a joint statement on Aug. 28, Mr. Albanese and Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said that Australians’ thoughts and condolences are with the U.S. troops who had been involved in the incident.

“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the three U.S. service personnel who lost their lives, those who have been injured, the rest of the crew and indeed the entire United States armed forces,” they said.

A V-22 Osprey and a Marine perform a demonstration at the U.S. Marines base in Moron de la Frontera on Oct. 6, 2015. Cristina Quicler/AFP/Getty Images

“Australian and U.S. 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.”

Meanwhile, Northern Territory Chief Minister Natasha Fyles, whose territory was hosting the defence exercise, said of the injured Marines that Australians were working to make sure everyone received care.

“We are working incredibly hard and as fast as we can to make sure we can get people to treatment,” she said.

Exercise Predators Run

The Marines who were killed and injured aboard the aircraft were flying in support of Exercise Predators Run.

The crash happened on the first day of the 12-day exercise that wraps up on Sept. 7.

The Predators Run is the territory’s largest Australian-led military exercise, involving about 2,500 soldiers, and takes place in both the Tiwi Islands and Darwin Harbour.

It’s a multinational exercise involving soldiers from Australia, the United States, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Timor-Leste.

“Predators Run is ... a very important exercise for us. We’re moving from a land-based organisation to a maritime-based organisation. As a result, we’ll be moving into that environment, operating around the Tiwi Islands and in Darwin Harbour," Brigadier Nick Foxall said.