Title: Australian Army Helicopter Crashes During Joint Military Exercises, Four Air Crew Members Missing
In a tragic incident during joint military exercises with the United States, an Australian Army helicopter crashed into the waters off the coast of Queensland. The crash occurred near Lindeman Island, a popular tourist resort on the Great Barrier Reef, at approximately 11 p.m. on Friday.
The missing crew members, all of whom are Australian men, are yet to be located. In response, U.S., Canadian, and Australian personnel have launched a search and rescue operation to find them. Queensland Police Assistant Commissioner Douglas McDonald reported that debris from the helicopter has already been recovered.
The ill-fated MRH-90 Taipan helicopter was participating in the Talisman Sabre military exercise, which involves 13 nations and over 30,000 military personnel. Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles categorized the crash as a “ditching,” indicating an emergency landing on water.
Following the incident, the exercise was temporarily postponed, but limited activity resumed later in the day. As a precautionary measure, the Australian Taipan fleet has been grounded.
It is worth noting that this is the second emergency involving an Australian Taipan helicopter this year. In March, another Taipan helicopter crashed into the sea off the coast of New South Wales. Fortunately, all occupants were safely rescued.
Expressing their condolences, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken offered sympathies to the missing air crew during a meeting with their Australian counterparts.
The crash has raised concerns about the reliability of Australian Taipan helicopters. Earlier plans to retire these helicopters ahead of schedule due to reliability issues were already announced by Australia. Instead, they aim to replace them with U.S.-built Black Hawks.
As the search and rescue operation continues, authorities are determined to locate the missing air crew and provide closure to their families and friends. The incident highlights the inherent risks associated with military training exercises and the importance of ongoing safety protocols and equipment assessments.
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