Australian Army Helicopter Crash Interrupts Key Exercise With US

Search-and-rescue operation underway for four missing crew
Exercise Talisman Sabre is suspended because of the crash

Flight operations from the 16th Combat Aviation Brigade (CAB) Blackhawk helicopters and MRH90 Helicopters from the Australian 5th Aviation Regiment as part of exercise ‘Talisman Sabre 23’ in Townsville, Australia, on July 27.Photographer: Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images

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By Angus Whitley

July 29, 2023 at 12:08 AM UTC

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An Australian army helicopter crashed in waters off the country’s northeast coast, interrupting high-profile military exercises with troops from more than a dozen countries including the US.

A search-and-rescue operation is underway for the four crew members who were on the MRH90, Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said Saturday. The helicopter ditched shortly after 10:30 p.m. local time close to Hamilton Island, near the coast of Queensland state.