Australia locates crashed US Marine heli-plane

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The wreckage of a US Marines aircraft that crashed off Australia’s east coast during a training exercise on Saturday has been found, Australian Defense Minister Marise Payne said on Monday.

The Royal Australian Navy located the MV-22 Osprey heli-plane shortly after beginning a search in Shoalwater Bay, on the Capricorn Coast of Central Queensland, said the statement.

The aircraft had 26 people on board when it came down. The US Marine Corps said that three US service members were killed with 23 others rescued.

Search efforts for three US Marines missing after their MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft crashed into the sea off Australia's northeast coast. /Reuters Photo

The US Defense Department identified the three Marines as First Lieutenant Benjamin Cross, 26, of Oxford, Maine; Corporal Nathaniel Ordway, 21, of Sedgwick, Kansas; and Private First Class Ruben Velasco, 19, of Los Angeles.

Their MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft crashed while on regular operations on Saturday after taking off from the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6) amphibious assault ship, the Marines Corps said. The Marines have described the incident as a "mishap" and said it was under investigation.

The navy divers will conduct remotely operated underwater vehicle operations before considering sending down divers, Payne said in a statement.

The Marine Corps said earlier it had shifted from a search-and-rescue effort to a recovery operation, which could last several months.

"Royal Australian Navy survey ship Melville arrived in Shoalwater Bay overnight," Payne said in the statement. "Shortly after commencing survey operations in the area, the submerged aircraft was located."

(With input from Reuters)