Military Plane Crashes Near Tucson
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TUCSON, Ariz. — A Marine Corps aircraft crashed in the vicinity of an airport west of Tucson on Saturday night during a military exercise, officials said.
Marine Col. William D. Catto said there were deaths, but would not confirm how many. At least 18 people were on board, Marana police spokesman Bill Derfus said.
The MV-22 tilt-rotor Osprey was making a routine landing at the Avra Valley Airport as part of a training mission when it crashed about 9 p.m., Catto said.
The plane had come from the Marine Corps Air Station in Yuma and was supposed to be returning.
Witnesses told KOLD-TV that they heard a loud explosion, and some saw a falling plane that appeared to be on fire.
The Osprey flies like a plane but lands and takes off like a helicopter.
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