A 22-year-old soldier who died in a training exercise in the Northern Territory along with five who were injured were travelling in a vehicle that rolled over during an exercise in the Mount Bundey military training area between Darwin and Kakadu National Park.

Two of the injured soldiers were taken by helicopter to Royal Darwin Hospital after the crash around 4pm Monday.

The NT Police force said it sent officers to the training area to help with the investigation, which is likely to involve or be led by the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force and involve a land accident investigation board and military police.

The Chief of the Army, Lieutenant General Susan Coyle, said “it’s like they’re your own kids” and measures would be taken to prevent similar accidents in the future.

“We’ve got to give them the time and space to truly understand what has happened so that we can make informed decisions on what to do next and what steps to take to try and mitigate this so it doesn’t happen again,” she told ABC radio in Perth.

The second death of a soldier in training in five months drew expressions of sympathy from across the political spectrum, including from Prime Minster Anthony Albanese, Liberal leader Angus Taylor, Veterans’ Affairs Minister Matt Keogh, NT Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro and former Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon, whose son died in an army parachute exercise two-and-a-half years ago.

The Prime Minister said in a statement: “Our nation’s thoughts are with the family, friends and colleagues of the Australian Army soldier who has tragically died during a training exercise in the Northern Territory yesterday.

“There are no safe or easy days for those who serve in our country’s name. This sad incident is a terrible reminder of what families take on when their loved one bravely puts on our nation’s uniform.

“Every loss and every incident is felt deeply by the broader Defence family, but by none more so than their mates who served alongside them. We think of them today and every day.”

Mr Fitzgibbon’s experience suggests it may take some time for the full account of what happened to become public. Inquiries by the IGADF, the federal Comcare workers compensation agency and the NSW Coroner into Lance Corporal Fitzgibbon’s death after a parachuting incident on March 6, 2024, have not been published or given to his family.

“My family’s thoughts are with those affected by the ADF training incident,” Mr Fitzgibbon told The Nightly.

“We are patiently awaiting the outcome of three inquiries into Jack’s fatal jump two-and-a-half years ago.”

The Defence Department has a policy of identifying all personnel who die in accidents or combat once family members have been notified.

“We request that the privacy of Defence members and families is respected at this time,” the Defence public relations office said in a written statement. “Defence will provide further updates when possible.”

Defence Minister Richard Marles said: “While further information will be provided in due course right now our focus is in providing this support.”

The last ADF member to die in training was Warrant Officer Class 2 Lachlan Muddle, a 50-year-old SAS sniper who was instructing a parachute course near Jervis Bay in NSW on May 11 when his chute became entangled with another.

Mount Bundey was the scene of another fatal training accident when Private Jason Challis was killed in a live-fire exercise in 2017. An inquest into his death was held two years later.

The Department of Defence subsequently admitted a charge of failing to comply with a health and safety duty in Darwin Local Court.