Australian soldier killed and five others injured in training exercise in the Northern Territory

An Australian soldier has died and five others were injured in a training accident at a facility outside Darwin yesterday, according to the defence department.The department on Tuesday morning released a statement confirming the incident, which occurred at the Mount Bundey training area, around 100km south-east of Darwin in the Northern Territory.“Defence can confirm an Australian Army soldier has died during a training exercise at the Mount Bundey Training Area on 5 October 2026,” the statement read.“Five other Australian Army soldiers were injured.”The department did not immediately confirm the nature of the incident or the cause of death, saying only: “Defence will provide further updates when possible.”Guardian Australia has contacted the defence department for further information about the nature of the incident and injuries. Defence minister Richard Marles, who is the acting prime minister, was also contacted. The department was expected to provide more details later on Tuesday.The NT’s chief minister, Lia Finocchiaro, indicated in a press conference that the incident had occurred on Monday evening.NTShe said two people were evacuated by helicopter to Darwin around 7.30pm, with another three taken by plane around 9.30pm.“Our sincerest condolences to the family of the young service personnel who lost their life yesterday,” Finocchiaro said.“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family who are obviously devastated by this loss and of course the support of our entire community is there for all of our service personnel who will be feeling this loss immensely.”Sign up for the Breaking News Australia emailThe NT’s police commissioner, Martin Dole, said officers had been sent to the facility to “assist defence” in responding.He also declined to provide further details but said police were “helping to investigate on behalf of the coroner”.“Next of kin has been notified. We request that the privacy of Defence members and families is respected at this time,” the department said.The incident comes following several high-profile training accidents claiming the lives of ADF personnel.skip past newsletter promotionafter newsletter promotionJack Fitzgibbon, the son of the former Labor defence minister Joel Fitzgibbon, died in 2024 during a parachute incident during a routine training activity in Sydney.Three separate inquiries were launched after the death of Fitzgibbon: a Comcare inquiry led by the commonwealth’s WHS regulator; a New South Wales coronial inquiry; and an internal defence probe.Lachlan Muddle, an experienced paratrooper, died in March after a mid-air collision with another trooper during training above a Jervis Bay airfield.Following Muddle’s death, Marles said the Australia defence force had been provided with recommendations from investigations into the death of Fitzgibbon.“In both that incident [2024] and this one, it is vital that investigations are as thorough as humanly possible so that every lesson is learned,” Marles said in March.Federal opposition leader Angus Taylor said the Coalition was awaiting further updates from the government “at the appropriate time.”“It’s another tragic reminder that our men and women warfighters put their lives on the line even when they are not on mission,” he said in a statement.“We are also thinking of the five soldiers injured in this incident. We wish them a full and swift recovery, and our thoughts are with their families who will be supporting them through this very challenging time.”