"Search Underway for Missing Air Crew Members After Australian Army Helicopter Incident"
Four air crew members are missing after an Australian army MRH-90 Taipan helicopter ditched into waters off the Queensland coast during joint military exercises with the United States. A search involving U.S., Canadian, and Australian personnel is underway. The helicopter was participating in the Talisman Sabre exercise, which involves 13 nations and over 30,000 military personnel. This is the second emergency involving an Australian Taipan helicopter this year. Australia has grounded its Taipan fleet as a precaution. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressed gratitude for the dedication and service of the missing air crew. Australia announced earlier this year that it would replace its Taipans with 40 U.S. Black Hawks due to reliability issues.