Recovery Efforts Underway For Three Lost Off The Coast Of Australia

Three U.S. Marines are still missing after the MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft they were aboard went down Saturday off the coast of Australia, and the military has shifted from a search-and-rescue posture to one of a recovery effort.

NBC News reports that, according to officials at Marine Corps Base Camp Butler in Okinawa, the search was suspended at around 0300 local time after a sustained search supported by aircraft and ships.

The aircraft went down on final approach to the USS Green Bay at 1607 local time Saturday. The aircraft with 26 people aboard reportedly hit the flight deck and then went into the water in Shoalwater Bay, according to military officials. All but three of the 26 were rescued, according to the report.

The ship and aircraft were taking part in an biennial joint training exercise with Australian forces. The weather was described as good at the time of the accident.

The families of the three missing personnel have been notified, according to the report. The flight deck of the Green Bay was damaged when it was impacted by the aircraft The aircraft had been assigned to the Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 265 of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.

According to the statement, the circumstances of the accident are "under investigation." The base said that salvage and recovery efforts can take months to complete.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.marines.mil