US military helicopter crashes near coast of Australia

Search and rescue operations are under way after a US military helicopter crashed near the coast of Queensland in eastern Australia.

The aircraft, an MV-22 Osprey, was believed to have fallen on Saturday afternoon (5) with several people aboard, Fox News quoted the military as saying.

A military aircraft and several ships were sent to the area to monitor the area where, according to reports, the accident occurred.

The US Navy confirmed via its official Twitter page that the search and rescue operation is ongoing. "We will provide more details when they arise," he added.

The US Armed Forces are in Australia to participate in Talisman Saber exercises, joint military maneuvers involving 33,000 US and Australian troops, as these maneuvers are held each year.