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Marine remains critical, 3 more still hospitalized after Hawaii air crash

Debris rises after a Marine Corps Osprey aircraft crashed at Bellows Air Force Station in Waimanalo, Hawaii, on May 17. One Marine remained in critical condition on May 18.

Debris rises after a Marine Corps Osprey aircraft crashed at Bellows Air Force Station in Waimanalo, Hawaii, on May 17. One Marine remained in critical condition on May 18.

(Kimberly Hynd / Associated Press)
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One Marine remained in critical condition Monday and three others were still hospitalized one day after their aircraft crashed in Hawaii, killing one Marine, the Marine Corps said.

The crash of the MV-22 Osprey occurred as Marines from the Camp Pendleton-based 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit were training in advance of a seven-month deployment to the Western Pacific and the Persian Gulf.

Lance Cpl. Joshua Barron, 24, of Spokane, Wash., was killed in the crash. Barron was a crew chief assigned to Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 161 at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar.

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The unit will continue training, said spokesman Capt. Brian Block. “The incident is under investigation,” Block said, “and there has been no halt to MV-22 flight operations.”

The crash occurred at the Marine portion of Bellows Air Force Base in Waimanalo, on the island of Oahu. The Marines use the area for amphibious assault, maneuver and non-live fire exercises.

Twenty-two Marines were aboard the Osprey. All were taken to a hospital for observation and treatment.

The 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit with 4,500 Marines and sailors, left San Diego last week aboard three ships: the assault ship Essex, dock landing ship Rushmore and transport dock ship Anchorage.

Follow Tony Perry on Twitter @LATSanDiego.

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