Search called off for 3 US Marines who crashed off Australia

VIRGINIA - 7 August 2017: US military officials called off a search and rescue operation on Sunday for three US Marines who were missing after their Osprey aircraft crashed into the sea off the east coast of Australia while trying to land.

The US Navy and Marine Corps suspended the rescue operation and launched a recovery effort instead, the Marine base Camp Butler in Japan said in a statement, essentially confirming the military does not expect to find the missing Marines alive.

According to Marine Corps Times, the Marines’ next of kin had been notified, and Australia’s defense force was assisting the Americans with the recovery effort, the statement said.

The MV-22 Osprey had launched from the USS Bonhomme Richard and was conducting regularly scheduled operations on Saturday when it crashed into the water, Camp Butler said.

The ship’s small boats and aircraft immediately responded in the search and rescue efforts, and 23 of 26 personnel aboard the aircraft were rescued.