5/19/2015 Update: The Corps has identified the Marine who died in the accident as Lance Cpl. Joshua E. Barron, of Spokane, Washington. The 24-year-old Marine was a tiltrotor crew chief assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 (Reinforced) and was stationed at MCAS Miramar prior to departing with the 15th MEU. He died from injuries sustained when the Osprey he was aboard crashed during a training exercise, according to a news release.
Today, four Marines still remain hospitalized, including one who is in critical condition.
The 15th MEU Commander, Col. Vance L. Cryer, stated in a release, “Our heartfelt condolences go out to his family and the families of all the Marines involved in Sunday’s crash… We appreciate the thoughts, prayers and support we have received as we continue to care for the injured and mourn our fallen Marine.”
Officials with 1 MEF are conducting an investigation into the crash. It’s clear a fire broke out aboard the Osprey, but it’s still not clear if the fire was a result of the hard landing or happened as a result of it. The fire contributed to some of the Marines’ injuries, Army Col. Steve Warren, a Pentagon spokesman, said Monday.
5/17/2015 Update: The Marine Corps has confirmed that one Marine has died in the accident and 21 Marines have been taken to the hospital, not 12 as originally reported.
“It’s tragic and our condolences go out to the families and the loved ones of the victim. But right now we need to investigate further and see what happened,” said Marine spokesman Capt. Alex Lim.
“I can tell you that MV-22s have been a very reliable aircraft … We’ve provided aide and assistance in the Philippines. They’re very reliable tilt rotor aircrafts.”
HONOLULU (AP) — The Marine Corps says 12 Marines have been taken to a hospital after an Osprey aircraft made a hard landing in Hawaii.
The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit said in a statement Sunday the Osprey had a “hard-landing mishap” during training at about 11 a.m. The Marines were training at Bellows Air Force Station on Oahu.
Officials didn’t provide details about the conditions of the Marines.
The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit is based at Camp Pendleton in California. The unit is in Hawaii for training.
