North Carolina, United States: An MV-22B Osprey belonging to the US Marine Corps’ Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 162 caught fire and made a hard landing during a training operation in Bladen Lakes State Forest, North Carolina, on 8 October 2026, with four Marines aboard.
The incident occurred at approximately 10:20 a.m. EDT near a remote landing zone in the forest, according to the Marine Corps. The aircraft was based at Marine Corps Air Station New River and was conducting military training when the mishap occurred. Local officials said the Osprey made a hard landing near Sweet Home Church Road, at a landing zone used by Marine pilots for takeoff and landing training.
The service described the incident as an “aviation mishap” and said the cause remained under investigation. “At approximately 10:20 a.m. EDT on Oct. 8, 2026, an aviation mishap occurred involving an MV-22B Osprey belonging to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron (VMM) 162 near Bladen County, North Carolina,” 1st Lt. Cailin Altonen, a spokesperson for the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing, said in the Marine Corps statement. “Four personnel were aboard the aircraft and are receiving medical care.”
The statement added: “Civilian and military emergency services responded to the site.” It also confirmed that the Osprey was based at Marine Corps Air Station New River and said, “This incident is currently under investigation.”
Local emergency officials provided additional details about the response. White Lake Fire Chief Dale Brennan said four Marines were aboard and that one suffered burns and was transported by medical helicopter to the UNC Jaycee Burn Center in Chapel Hill. Brennan said the injured Marine was conscious and speaking with emergency responders before being flown to the burn center.
Initial local reports said the other three Marines were not injured and were either flown or taken back to the base. However, a later Marine Corps statement said the medical status of all four personnel had not been released, making the service’s account the latest official position on their condition.
The identities and specific roles of the four Marines aboard the aircraft have not been publicly released. The Marine Corps has so far referred to them only as personnel aboard the Osprey.
Brennan said the Osprey was carrying approximately 6,000 pounds of jet fuel when it caught fire. Several local fire and rescue departments responded, while the North Carolina State Highway Patrol helped secure the area. Firefighters faced difficulties reaching the aircraft because the landing zone was in a wooded area.
The aircraft fire was later extinguished. Marine Corps personnel from Camp Lejeune were sent to the scene to investigate the mishap and coordinate with local emergency crews. Local officials said approximately six to seven fire departments responded to the incident.
The Marine Corps has not disclosed what caused the Osprey to make the hard landing or what triggered the fire. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) is leading the investigation.
The latest available information therefore establishes that the aircraft was an MV-22B Osprey assigned to VMM-162 and based at MCAS New River, that it was conducting military training, and that it suffered an aviation mishap followed by a hard landing and fire. Four Marines were aboard; one was reported locally to have suffered burns, while the Marine Corps has not released individual medical details or their identities. The cause remains under investigation.
