The three US Marines killed in an aircraft crash near Darwin have been formally identified.

Major Tobin Lewis, 37, Corporal Spencer Collart, 21, and Captain Eleanor LeBeau, 29, were all killed in the crash during a routine training exercise on Melville Island on Sunday morning.

The aircraft, a Boeing MV-22B Osprey tilt-rotor, was carrying 23 American personnel when it crashed.

Five other military personnel were transported to Royal Darwin Hospital in a serious condition. Three remain in hospital and one is in a critical condition.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

The Australian Defence Force sent their sympathy to the victim’s families and all other people involved.

“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with the three US service personnel who lost their lives, those who have been injured, the rest of the crew and indeed the entire United States armed forces,” the organisation said.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese labelled the crash as “tragic” and “regrettable”, during a press conference in Western Australia.

Approximately 150 US Marines had been stationed in Darwin and undertaking military drills alongside personnel from Australia and the Philippines when the crash occurred.

Photo: V-22 Osprey by Peter Gronemann available HERE and used under a Creative Commons license. This image has not been modified.