Australia: Hopes Fade in Search for Soldiers Missing After Helicopter Crash

Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles stated on Monday that "hopes are fading" in the search for a crew of four individuals after an Australian Defence Force helicopter crashed in the ocean off the coast of Queensland. The minister remarked, "A catastrophic incident has occurred, and with each passing hour, it is clear that any hope of finding the soldiers has faded." Additionally, Defence Force Chief Angus Campbell noted that "recovering the bodies of the four crew members will not be easy due to strong currents, but the operation continues." The helicopter was participating in the military exercises known as "Talisman Sabre," jointly conducted by the United States and Australia, when it fell into the waters near Hamilton Island, approximately 890 kilometers north of Brisbane.