Story highlights Three missing Marines declared dead following Osprey crash

The US military had been in the area for training exercises

(CNN) The US Marine Corps has identified three Marines who died after a US military aircraft ditched into waters off Australia's east coast on Saturday.

A news release from the Marine Corps base in Camp Butler, Okinawa, named the three as 1st Lt. Benjamin Cross, 26, Cpl. Nathaniel Ordway, 21, and Pfc. Ruben Velasco, 19.

The three were declared dead after "extensive search and rescue efforts" around the crash site, around 18 miles off the coast of the Shoalwater Bay Training Area, Queensland, Australia. Their remains were not recovered, Marine Expeditionary Unit spokeswoman Lt. Christina Metzler confirmed to CNN.

"The loss of every Marine is felt across our entire Marine Corps family," Col. Tye Wallace, commanding officer, 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit, said in the statement.

The Marines "left a lasting impression on the 31st MEU, the Marine Corps, and the world. They will live on forever in our thoughts and our hearts," he said.

Marines 1st Lt. Benjamin R. Cross, Cpl. Nathaniel F. Ordway and Pfc. Ruben P. Velasco (l-r) died in an accident which occurred while attempting to land a MV-22 Osprey aircraft on a Navy ship.

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