一架MV-22B魚鷹機2015年從尼泊爾起飛,載著美國海軍陸戰隊隊員返回日本沖繩基地。(取自美國海軍陸戰隊)
美國海軍陸戰隊有一架魚鷹機,8日墜毀於南加州的沙漠地區。這起事件發生於當地時間8日中午12時25分(台灣時間9日凌晨3時25分);洛杉磯時報引述消息人士說法稱,機上有5位海軍陸戰隊員,其中4人罹難。
這架魚鷹型傾斜旋翼機(MV-22B Osprey)隸屬加州聖地牙哥的陸戰隊第3航空聯隊(3rd Marine Aircraft Wing),派駐於彭德爾頓營(Camp Pendleton),墜機地點位於帝國郡(Imperial County)的格拉米斯(Glamis)。
Five people were on board a MV-22B Osprey when it crashed in a remote area near the town of Glamis in Imperial County, @ABC7 reports. There is no official word on possible casualties. Military personnel remain at the crash site investigating the cause of crash. pic.twitter.com/Y54EVvuEpj
— Malik Earnest (@MalikEarnest) June 9, 2022
#BREAKING: A #militaryaircraft has reportedly down in the vicinity of Highway 78 and Coachella Canal Road in the northeast end of the county near the Glamis area, both Imperial County fire personnel and a Navy spokesperson confirmed.https://t.co/bNFFRn5LwA
— Calexico Chronicle (@CalexicoChron) June 8, 2022
稍早,一名地方記者厄尼斯特(Malik Earnest)透過推特發文稱,有「初步報告」指出這架魚鷹機上載有核材料,但此消息隨後遭美國軍方否認。
An aircraft belonging to @3rdmaw has crashed near Glamis, CA. Military and civilian first responders are on site.
— U.S. Marines (@USMC) June 8, 2022
Contrary to social media rumors, there was no nuclear material on board the aircraft. More information will be made available as we receive it.
根據美聯社報導,魚鷹機可以像直升機一樣起降,但又能以渦輪螺旋槳式飛機的方式飛行。
美國海軍研究協會新聞(USNI News)指出,這是今年第二起海軍陸戰隊的MV-22B魚鷹機事故,3月時也有一架MV-22B在訓練過程中墜毀於挪威。
福斯新聞稱,魚鷹機的墜機比例確實比較高。軍事專家馬丁德爾(Richard Martindell)表示,從美國空軍的統計看來,魚鷹機的事故率是一般運輸機的3倍之多。