4 crew lacking after Australian military helicopter crashes throughout army train

A search is ongoing to seek out 4 lacking air crew members after an Australian military helicopter landed into waters off the Queensland state coast on Friday.

The MRH-90 Taipan helicopter went down close to Hamilton Island whereas conducting joint army workouts with the United States, officers mentioned.

Defence minister Richard Marles informed reporters: “Defence workouts, that are so needed for the readiness of our defence pressure, are severe. They carry danger.

“As we desperately hope for higher information through the course of this present day we’re reminded in regards to the gravity of the act which comes with sporting our nation’s uniform.”

A rescue helicopter reported recognizing particles on Saturday close to Dent Island within the Whitsunday Islands group.

The Taipan was collaborating in Talisman Sabre, a biennial joint US-Australian army train that’s largely based mostly in Queensland.

Mr Marles mentioned the helicopter ditched, which refers to an emergency touchdown on water.

He mentioned it was collaborating in a mission that concerned a second helicopter, which instantly began a search and rescue operation.

US army personnel are additionally collaborating within the search.

The lacking helicopter had simply dropped off two Australian commandos earlier than it hit the water, Australian Broadcasting Corp reported.

It’s the second emergency involving an Australian Taipan this yr, after one ditched into the ocean off the New South Wales state coast in March.

That helicopter was collaborating in a night-time counterterrorism coaching train when it bumped into bother. All 10 passengers and crew members had been rescued.

Australia introduced in January its military and navy would cease flying the European-built Taipans by December 2024, 13 years sooner than initially deliberate, as a result of that they had proved unreliable.

US defence secretary Lloyd Austin was in Brisbane for a gathering on Saturday and is because of journey with Mr Marles to north Queensland on Sunday to see the train.

The train has been paused by the search.

Mr Austin and US secretary of state Antony Blinken paid tribute to the lacking air crew on the outset of a gathering with their Australian counterparts.

Mr Austin mentioned: “It’s at all times powerful when you have got accidents in coaching, however… the rationale that we prepare to such excessive requirements is in order that we might be profitable and we are able to defend lives after we are known as to reply any sort of disaster.