Crashed Osprey recovered
The wreck of a US military aircraft that crashed off the Queensland coast last month, killing three Marines, has been seen publicly for the first time after being shipped to Townsville. The MV-22B Osprey (above) was escorted back to Townsville by the USNS Salvor and was in a holding yard yesterday.
THE wreck of a US military aircraft that crashed off the Queensland coast last month, killing three marines, has been seen publicly for the first time after being shipped to Townsville.
The MV-22B Osprey arrived at Port of Townsville on Saturday after it was towed, upside down, on a barge along The Strand following its long journey from Shoalwater Bay, north of Rockhampton.
The aircraft was escorted by the USNS Salvor and was in a holding yard yesterday, where significant damage to both propellers was visible, while the cockpit was covered up.
The Salvor and other vessels recovered the wrecked heliplane from the seabed after it was detected by HMAS Melville on August 6, the day after the fatal crash.
In a statement, the US Marine Corps’ III Marine Expeditionary Force said the Osprey had been moved to Townsville to be prepared for transport to Hawaii.
“The exact cause of the mishap will be determined after the investigation is complete,” the statement read.
“The investigation is very thorough and is intended to find the cause of the incident in order to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
“We are extremely grateful for the assistance of the Royal Australian Navy’s HMAS Melville and Clearance Diver Team One, which initially responded for recovery efforts, followed by the USNS Salvor and Mobile Diving and Salvage Unit One, which completed the salvage operations.”
The US III Marine Expeditionary Force would not confirm when or how the aircraft would be transported to Hawaii. The aircraft involved in the mishap had launched from the USS Bonhomme Richard and was conducting regular operations when it entered the water while trying to land on the USS Green Bay.
The ships’ small boats and aircraft immediately responded in search and rescue efforts.
First Lieutenant Benjamin Cross, 26, Corporal Nathaniel Ordway, 21, and Private First Class Ruben Velasco, 19, were killed in the incident, while 23 personnel were rescued.
Major Chapman Spring, who was the most seriously injured of the rescued personnel, last week arrived at the Walter Reed Medical Center in Maryland, USA, where he is still receiving treatment for a badly broken left leg.
A spokesman for the Australian Department of Defence confirmed the wreck would be transported to a commercial storage facility in Townsville to be prepared for a US return.
“Our deepest sympathies are with all those affected by this tragedy,” the spokesman said. “Events such as these have a profound effect on all military personnel and their families in highlighting the very real risks that our men and women face.”
THE INVESTIGATION IS VERY THOROUGH AND IS INTENDED TO FIND THE CAUSE OF THE INCIDENT IN ORDER TO PREVENT SIMILAR OCCURRENCES IN THE FUTURE US MARINE CORPS’ III MARINE EXPEDITIONARY FORCE STATEMENT