Marine Corps identifies Osprey involved in Bladen County hard landing
BLADEN COUNTY, NC (WWAY) — The Marine Corps has confirmed that an MV-22B Osprey based out of Marine Corps Air Station New River was involved in an aviation mishap Thursday morning in Bladen County.
According to an official statement, the incident happened around 10:20 a.m. on Oct. 8 and involved an aircraft belonging to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 162.
Four personnel were aboard the Osprey and are receiving medical care, according to the Marine Corps. Officials said the medical statuses of those aboard are not available at this time.
White Lake Fire Chief Dale Brennan previously told WWAY the aircraft made a hard landing in Bladen Lakes State Forest near Sweet Home Church Road, where Marine pilots conduct takeoff and landing training.
Brennan said one Marine suffered burns and was transported by helicopter to the UNC Jaycee Burn Center in Chapel Hill for treatment.
He previously reported that the other three Marines were uninjured and remained at the scene. However, the Marine Corps has not confirmed the extent of any injuries and said the medical statuses of all four personnel are currently unavailable.
The fire chief said the Osprey was carrying approximately 6,000 pounds of jet fuel at the time of the incident.
A fire was still burning at the site when Brennan spoke with WWAY this afternoon.
Approximately six to seven fire departments responded to the scene. Brennan said crews were securing the area while awaiting military personnel from Camp Lejeune to determine how to proceed with firefighting operations, including whether to use foam to extinguish the fire.
Brennan also said the Marines use two aviation landing zones in Bladen Lakes State Forest for pilot training.
The North Carolina State Highway Patrol was among the agencies at the scene near Sweet Home Church Road.
In its official statement, the Marine Corps confirmed that civilian and military emergency services responded to the incident.
The cause of the mishap remains under investigation.
WWAY will continue to provide updates as more information becomes available.
