The military grounded all of its Osprey V-22 helicopters, one week after eight Air Force Special Operations Command service members died in a crash off the coast of Japan. The Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps took the extraordinary step of grounding hundreds of aircraft after a preliminary investigation indicated a materiel failure as the cause of the crash. Japan grounded its fleet of 14 Ospreys after the crash. Multiple fatal accidents with the Osprey in its relatively short time of service have raised new questions about its safety. The standdown is expected to remain in place until the investigation has determined the cause of the Japan crash and made recommendations to allow the fleet to return to operations.
The USS made Osprey is still a relatively young aircraft in the military’s fleet, but more than 50 troops have died from the aircraft, either flight testing it or conducting training flights. An Osprey accident in August 2023 in Australia killed three Marines, which is still under investigation. The Osprey’s unique design and mechanical problems with the clutch have raised questions about its safety record. The investigation into last week’s crash has only just begun, renewing attention to the aircraft’s safety record.
