Australia finds crashed Osprey, 3 still missing

SYDNEY: A US military aircraft that crashed off the Australian coast has been found, authorities said yesterday, with divers preparing to try and locate three missing marines.

The MV-22 Osprey – a hybrid helicopter-turboprop with a chequered safety record – went down on Saturday off Shoalwater Bay in Queensland state.

Twenty-three personnel were quickly saved, but three marines remained missing despite an air and sea search.

The Royal Australian Navy survey ship HMAS Melville joined the search overnight and soon found the wreckage.

“Shortly after commencing survey operations in the area, the submerged aircraft was located,” Defence Minister Marise Payne said in a statement.

A navy diving team has since headed to the Melville via landing craft and was to conduct “remotely operated underwater vehicle operations” yesterday evening.

On Sunday the US Marine Corps said recovery and salvage operations could take months to complete, while the cause of the crash was being investigated.

The Japan- based aircraft was in the region as part of the Australian- US joint military exercise Talisman Sabre.

Following the incident, Japan’s defence minister asked Washington to temporarily stop flying them in his country.

Japan’s new defence minister Itsunori Onodera told the US military yesterday of his “many concerns”

Japanese media said the flight took place on the southern island of Okinawa, where a squadron of Ospreys is stationed at the US Marines’ Futenma base.

Major General Charles Chiarotti, deputy commander of US Forces in Japan, told Onodera the flight was necessary for operational reasons and that safety was confirmed, according to the ministry.

There have been a series of deadly incidents, mostly in the United States, involving the aircraft.