Entire Osprey Fleet of the US Air Force Grounded in Response to Fatal Training Mission Crash in Japan
Fleet grounded after crash claims the lives of eight service members.
Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) has grounded the United States’ entire fleet of CV-22 Ospreys while an investigation into a Nov. 29 crash off the Japanese coast is ongoing.
So far, no timeline for the investigation and a possible end date have been revealed publicly.
Lt. Bauernfeind also implied the Osprey fleet would return to service at some point in the future.
This comes despite the latest crash claiming the lives of eight service members and the long history of Osprey crashes all around the world.
“The standdown will provide time and space for a thorough investigation to determine causal factors and recommendations to ensure the Air Force CV-22 fleet returns to flight operations,” Lt. Gen. Bauernfeind said.
According to Lt. Gen. Bauernfeind, the underlying cause of the crash in Japan is still unknown at this time. However, it has been suggested during the preliminary investigation that a “potential material failure” is at fault.
Lt. Gen. Bauernfeind provided no additional information about the incident or when the Osprey fleet might return to service. Further updates will be made as they become available, he said.
“While the mishap remains under investigation, we are implementing additional risk mitigation controls to ensure the safety of our service members,” the federal agency said.
“The Joint Program Office continues to communicate and collaborate with all V-22 stakeholders and customers, including allied partners.”
![An MV-22B Osprey with Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron (VMX) 1 transports ordnance during an Expeditionary Advanced Base Operation (EABO) exercise to Old Highway 101 near Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., on May 25, 2022. (U.S. Marine Corps via AP)](https://www.theepochtimes.com/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F07%2F21%2Fid5415364-MV-22B-Osprey-e1690076672760-600x401.jpg&w=1200&q=75)
Osprey crashes have plagued the U.S. military for years. A fatal crash that killed three in August led to the Marines ordering a safety review of the aircraft.
The fleet was also grounded earlier this year following yet another incident. Last year, AFSOC ordered a temporary stand-down of its Osprey fleet following safety incidents where the clutch slipped, causing an uneven power distribution to the rotors.