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Osprey damaged after precautionary landing

JACKSONVILLE, N.C. — An MV-22 Osprey made a precautionary landing Wednesday night in a national game land after one of its engines ran low on fuel, officials said.

The aircrew, of the Marine Corps Air Station New River, N.C.-based with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Training Squadron 204, was conducting low altitude training when an engine ran out of fuel, according to 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing statement.

The pilot landed about 7 p.m. in a field in Holly Shelter Game Land in Pender County, which is south of the air station. After the Osprey was fueled, it was ready to take off until the grass underneath it caught fire from the heat exhaust.

“The grass fire was quickly extinguished by the crew chief, but caused an undetermined amount of heat damage to the aircraft exterior,” the Marine statement said.

The extent of the damage has not been determined, but the Osprey was flown back to New River on Thursday afternoon, said 2nd MAW spokeswoman Maj. Aisha Bakkar.