The
navy divers will conduct remotely operated underwater vehicle
operations before considering sending down divers, Payne said in
a statement.
The U.S. Marine Corps had suspended a search for the three
Marines missing since the MV-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft
crashed while on regular operations on Saturday.
The Marines have described the incident as a "mishap" and said
it was under investigation.
"Royal Australian Navy survey ship Melville arrived in
Shoalwater Bay overnight," Payne said in the statement. "Shortly
after commencing survey operations in the area, the submerged
aircraft was located."
The aircraft had taken off from the USS Bonhomme Richard (LHD 6)
amphibious assault ship and was on regular operations when it
crashed, according to the Marine Corps.
Twenty-three other personnel aboard the aircraft were rescued.
The Marine Corps said earlier it had shifted from a
search-and-rescue effort to a recovery operation, which could
last several months.
(Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Nick Macfie)
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