The Australian Defence Force is investigating what caused a Royal Australian Navy Seahawk helicopter to ditch in the Philippine Sea last night.

Defence Minister Peter Dutton confirmed to Ray Hadley the personnel aboard were swiftly rescued and treated for minor injuries.

“The three crew members have been dispatched just as part of a regular, routine flight on the MH-60 and it’s got into difficulties.

“They’re not sure yet what went wrong, but the most important thing is that the crew members were rescued by boats that had been dispatched by the HMAS Brisbane, and they were brought back onto the vessel about 20 minutes later.

“It just underscores the difficult work and the dangerous work that the men and women of our Australian Defence Force undertake.”

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