WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
  • An MV-22B Osprey carrying four Marines burst into flames and made a hard landing during a North Carolina training exercise.
  • All four Marines received medical care, while one Marine suffered burns and was taken to a nearby clinic.
  • Multiple fire crews responded as 6,000 pounds of jet fuel remained aboard the aircraft.
  • The Marine Corps said civilian and military emergency services responded and the incident remains under investigation.

A military aircraft carrying four Marines burst into flames and made a hard landing in North Carolina on Thursday morning, according to reports. The aircraft was an MV-22B Osprey participating in a training exercise when the incident unfolded in the Bladen Lakes State Forest area.

Bladen County Sheriff Jim McVicker told WECT that the Osprey ignited and came down hard during the exercise. His account placed the aircraft in the state forest area as civilian and military emergency services responded.

All four Marines received medical care after what the Marine Corps described as an “aviation mishap.” The aircraft belongs to the Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron, which is based out of Air Station New River, according to the Marine Corps statement.

The military branch confirmed that responders from both the civilian and military sides were called to the location. “Civilian and military emergency services responded to the site,” the Marine Corps said.

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One of the Marines suffered burns during the incident, White Lake Fire Chief Dale Brennan told WECT. That Marine was rushed to a nearby clinic for treatment following the fiery landing.

Multiple fire crews were working at the scene as the emergency response continued, according to Brennan. Their efforts focused on extinguishing the fire involving the Osprey in the Bladen Lakes State Forest area.

Brennan also told WECT that 6,000 pounds of jet fuel were on the aircraft. The chief’s comments came as multiple fire crews attempted to put out the blaze at the scene.

The incident happened during a training exercise involving the MV-22B Osprey, according to McVicker. The sheriff’s account and the Marine Corps statement both identified the event as involving military training and an aircraft assigned to the Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron.

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Air Station New River had training exercises planned for the week, according to information posted online by the adjacent Camp Lejeune. The base had advised personnel and visitors that they could notice additional activity tied to exercises and emergency response operations.

“On Oct. 8, personnel and visitors may notice increased exercise and emergency-response activity in the French Creek area … AVOID THIS AREA IF POSSIBLE, between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m,” the base announced.

The announcement identified the French Creek area and provided a time window running from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It specifically urged people to avoid that area if possible while the planned activity was taking place.

The Marine Corps did not provide a cause for the Osprey’s ignition or hard landing in its statement. Instead, the military branch said the circumstances surrounding the event remained under review.

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“This incident is currently under investigation,” the Marine Corps concluded. No investigative findings were included in the information provided following the Thursday morning incident.

The immediate response brought together civilian and military emergency services, along with multiple fire crews working to extinguish the aircraft fire. Medical care was provided to all four Marines, while the Marine who suffered burns was transported to a nearby clinic.

The aircraft remained identified as an MV-22B Osprey belonging to the Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron based out of Air Station New River. The Marine Corps investigation will examine the incident.

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