Officials said Wednesday afternoon that a Marine Corps Osprey was killed in a crash in the Southern California desert.
It wasn’t immediately clear how many people were aboard the aircraft and what their status was. First Lieutenant Duane Kampa, who is based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego said that the MV-22B Osprey aircraft belonged to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing.
According to military officials, reports that the aircraft had nuclear material aboard were false.
According to Naval Air Facility El Centro, the crash occurred near Glamis. This area is about 150 miles east from San Diego and known for its desert sand dunes.
It said that military firefighters and the Imperial County Fire Department responded to calls.
Over the past two decades, the Osprey has experienced a turbulent history. It can take off and land like any helicopter but it can fly like an aircraft thanks to its tiltrotor engines.
Four Marines were killed when an Osprey crashed into a training exercise with NATO allies in Norway. It took place in extreme winter conditions.
The Marine Corps stands behind the Osprey as safe and effective, despite the fact that it was involved in more than 30 fatal crashes before it entered service in 2007.
