A military MV-22B Osprey from Camp Lejeune made an emergency hard landing in Bladen Lakes State Forest on Thursday morning. The aircraft caught fire during a routine training exercise near Sweet Home Church Road in Bladen County, North Carolina, triggering a major response from local emergency services.
Incident Details and Emergency Response
White Lake Fire Chief Dale Brennan reported that four Marines were aboard the aircraft. Three crew members were uninjured and returned to their base, but one Marine sustained burn injuries. The injured service member was airlifted to the UNC Jaycee Burn Center in Chapel Hill for specialized treatment.
The aircraft was carrying approximately 6,000 pounds of jet fuel, which complicated initial firefighting efforts. The Bladen County Sheriff’s Office and the North Carolina State Highway Patrol secured the site, while six to seven local fire departments worked to contain the blaze until specialized personnel from Camp Lejeune arrived to assist with final suppression.
Military Training in Bladen County
Bladen Lakes State Forest includes designated aviation landing zones frequently used by Marine pilots for training maneuvers. Sheriff Jim McVicker confirmed that the aircraft was conducting authorized training operations when the emergency occurred.
Incident Summary
- Injuries: One Marine transported to UNC Jaycee Burn Center; three crew members uninjured.
- Aircraft: MV-22B Osprey assigned to Camp Lejeune.
- Location: Bladen Lakes State Forest, near Sweet Home Church Road.
- Hazards: Approximately 6,000 pounds of jet fuel present at the site.
The cause of the fire and the hard landing remains under investigation. Military officials are coordinating with local agencies to determine the sequence of events that led to the emergency.
