Fire crews, the Forest Service and Marine Corps personnel are on the scene of a crashed Osprey aircraft in Bladen Lakes State Forest.
The Osprey was part of a training mission in the parking lot when it caught fire and had a “hard landing,” according to emergency officials. The aircraft was carrying around 6,000 pounds of highly volatile fuel when it went down, apparently due to a fire onboard, fire officials said.
Emergency vehicles and the Highway Patrol are controlling traffic along N.C. 242 in the vicinity of Sweet Home Church Road and Jones Lake State Park. The State Forest is adjacent to Jones Lake.
Emergency vehicles and the Highway Patrol are controlling traffic along N.C. 242 in the vicinity of Sweet Home Church Road and Jones Lake State Park. The State Forest is adjacent to Jones Lake.
The Osprey is a specialized Vertical/Short Takeoff/Landing (VSTOL) plane that can rotate its wings to land and launch like a helicopter, according to the U.S. Marine Corps. Ospreys are a common sight in the area due to Cherry Point Air Station at New River.
One Marine was transported to a burn center after the crash. The other three crewmembers sustained non-life threatening injuries.
The Osprey was part of a flight of aircraft training in the area of the former N.C. Forest Service airstrip in the State Forest. The airstrip has been used by the Marines and other services for decades, due to its similarity to undeveloped runways in potential warzones.
The $71 million VSTOl carried 24 combat troops or a variety of equipment, and typically has a crew of four, according to the USMC.
