AUSTRALIAN SOLDIER DIES AS VEHICLE OVERTURNS IN TRAINING EXERCISE

An Australian soldier died and five others were injured when a military vehicle overturned during a training exercise at the Mount Bundey Training Area in the Northern Territory, the Department of Defence said. The department said the soldier, 28, died on 5 October 2026, while one report said a man was declared dead at the scene. The crash, reported to involve a Supacat high-mobility transporter vehicle, happened at around 4.20pm local time on Monday. Northern Territory Police attended the scene, and two injured soldiers were airlifted to Royal Darwin Hospital by helicopter at around 7.30pm, with three more transported by plane at around 9.30pm, according to NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro. Two of the injured were reported to be in critical condition.

Mount Bundey, located roughly 100-130km southeast of Darwin, is used by the army for live fire training exercises. It is the same site where soldier Jason Challis, 25, was shot in the head and knee and killed during an exercise in 2017. A 2019 inquest into Challis's death heard the exercise was "shambolic" and that his death had been preventable; the department later pleaded guilty to failing to comply with workplace safety obligations. One report noted that Monday's death was the second of an Australian soldier this year, following the death of paratrooper Lachlan Muddle in a mid-air collision during training in May.

The Department of Defence confirmed the latest incident on Tuesday and said it would hold a press conference to provide further details, while also requesting privacy for the affected soldiers and their families. NT Police Commissioner Martin Dole said resources had been sent to Mount Bundey to assist the department's investigation on behalf of the coroner, adding that police could not comment on the cause of the injuries. Finocchiaro offered condolences to the family of the soldier who died and said support was available for defence personnel affected. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also offered condolences, saying: "There are no safe or easy days for those who serve in our country's name."