Air traffic control audio has the moment authorities declared an emergency after the crash of a US military Osprey aircraft that killed three marines.
Key points:
- Three people remain in hospital following the crash, one in intensive care
- Air traffic control audio mentions 'significant fire' minutes after an emergency is declared
- The incident happened on Melville Island north of Darwin
Twenty-three personnel were onboard the Osprey, with 20 of the crew evacuated to Darwin.
In the audio, an American voice can be heard making the first mention of a serious incident unfolding on the Tiwi Islands, to Darwin's north.
"We are just a declaring an emergency, we have Dumptruck 11 flight single MV-22 in the vicinity of Melville Island."
Approximately six minutes later, air traffic control asks for further information:
"Contact 33, search and rescue is requesting … if there is fire."
"There is a significant fire in the vicinity of the crash site. Looks like it is not spreading, but there is a significant fire," comes a response.
The recording can be heard in audio logs of Darwin's air traffic control shortly after the crash around 9am on Sunday.
The crash happened during Exercise Predators Run, a series of wargames being held in northern Australia between the militaries of the United States, Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Timor Leste.
Three people were killed and three more remain in the Royal Darwin Hospital, including one in intensive care.
The bodies of those killed are expected to be brought back to the mainland in the coming days, with Northern Territory Police Commissioner Michael Murphy saying investigators are expected to be stationed at the crash site for another 10 days at least.
In the hours after the crash, multiple organisations including Careflight, NT Police, NT Health and the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre (NCCTRC) assisted in getting injured US marines back to Darwin.
Executive director of the Darwin-based NCCTRC, Len Notaras, said he was "relieved" so many people survived the crash.
"Quite often the result of such an event can be catastrophic," he said.
"Those that got the asset onto the ground, are probably well worthwhile commending even though they might have lost their lives."
US Ambassador to Australia Caroline Kennedy also extended her "deepest sympathies" to the families and fellow marines of those who killed and injured.
"This tragedy, and the recent loss that Australia also suffered [in the fatal MRH90 Taipan crash earlier this month] reminds us all how grateful we are to those who serve in uniform, risking their lives every day to protect and defend the country they love and to keep the rest of us safe," she said.
"We will keep them in our prayers always."
Loading...Tiwi residents in shock after Osprey crash
On the Tiwi Islands, residents of the remote Northern Territory archipelago today reacted with shock and disbelief that an international incident of such scale could've happened on their home soil.
Tiwi elder Bernard Tipiloura, the NT's 2023 Senior Australian of the Year, offered his heartfelt condolences to the families of the fallen Americans, and said his people were preparing a traditional ceremony to help let their spirits rest.
"We were very sad to see this happen," he said from his home in Wurrumiyanga, on Bathurst Island.
"We can perform a sorry dance at the Tiwi College, because it's near Tiwi College where the plane crashed.
"We want to perform sorry dance because that's our way to say sorry to the lost people."
Xavier Catholic College teacher Tammy Kerinaiua said the crash happened on her mother's Mantiyuwi clan country.
As the news travelled through the community, she said many reacted with devastation over the deaths.
"Our sincere condolences go out to them," Ms Kerinaiua said of the victim's families.
"It's really shocking and devastating and sad."
She said children at the high school would also likely be putting together a tribute for the three lives lost on their island home.
"Probably get the school kids to do a tribute messages to the US [military personnel]," she said.
Kayne Fernando, who captains a ferry between neighbouring Bathurst and Melville Islands, said he watched Australian Defence Force members gathering by the water's edge for hours, just waiting for news to find out if Predators Run would continue.
He too offered his tributes.
"It's sad for the rest of the families over there in the US," Mr Fernando said.
The Tiwi Land Council, which issues visitor permits to those from outside the islands, today placed a blanket ban on media permits to Melville Island, the site of the crash.
A no-fly zone also remains in place over the remote and difficult-to-access area.
Tiwi Land Council Chairman Gibson Farmer Illortaminni said there was a strong bond between the Tiwi people and military personnel training in the area.
"We want to assure them and their families that they have the support and well wishes of the Tiwi community during this challenging time," he said.
Mr Gibson said he was relieved no residents were impacted by the unfortunate accident.
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2023-08-28 07:02:53Z
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