Marine Corps Osprey aircraft crashed at the Arizona border in Imperial County, leaving four people dead. Emergency responders reported that the MV-22B aircraft went down around Coachella Canal Road and Highway 78 near the Glamis Dunes.
Corporal Sarah Marshall, a spokesperson for the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, stated that there were no nuclear materials on board.
Local firefighters and sheriff’s deputies responded to the crash after it occurred around 12:25 p.m. The aircraft was based at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton with Marine Aircraft Group 39.
Military officials could not confirm the fatalities, but it is believed that there were five people aboard and four were dead.
Versions of this aircraft are flown by the Navy, Air Force, and Marines to transport troops, supplies, and equipment. It is different than a helicopter because of its higher top speed and longer range. This is not the first time this aircraft has crashed, it is known for its troubled history.
In March the Osprey aircraft was carrying four Marines before it crashed in Norway during a NATO exercise. All four Marines were killed in the crash.
In 2001, the Marine Corps suspended the commander of the MV-B22 Osprey training after allegations claiming he told subordinates to falsify maintenance records. A Pentagon official stated in a study that the aircraft had abnormally high maintenance needs that had to be corrected for it to be reliable.
This crash was the third military crash resulting in fatalities this month.
The cause of the crash has not been released and investigations are ongoing.
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Resource
Solis, N., Winton, R., & Yee, G. (2022, June 9). Marine aircraft crashes in Imperial County, killing at least 4. Los Angeles Times. Retrieved June 9, 2022, from https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2022-06-08/military-aircraft-crashes-in-imperial-county