The US Marine Corps confirms that a Bell Boeing MV-22 Osprey tiltrotor operating from the amphibious assault ship USS Iwo Jima crashed near Agadir, Morocco, killing two Marines.

The aircraft was participating in an exercise with the Moroccan military called African Lion. Four marines were on the MV-22 at the time of the accident. Two were killed, while two others were severely injured in the crash.

 Bell-Boeing MV-22,

© Bell Boeing

The injured are being medically evacuated for further treatment while the others' next of kin have been informed, the USMC says.

The Osprey was assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 261 based at Marine Corps Air Station New River, North Carolina. The VMM-261 detachment was operating as part of the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit.

The USMC could not immediately provide more details of the accident, but the US Navy investigates any such crash thoroughly.

The V-22 aircraft is operated by the Marines and also by the US Air Force Special Operations Command.

Source: Flight International