The US military has initiated another suspension of operations for its V-22 Osprey fleet following ongoing safety concerns, a Navy spokesperson confirmed on Monday.
The directive for an operational pause was issued by Naval Air Forces, targeting all U.S. Navy CMV-22B Osprey flights. This decision was made after recommendations from the Naval Air Systems Command,” explained Cmdr. Tim Hawkins. The move allows time to assess whether further safety measures are necessary.
Simultaneously, the Marine Corps has enforced a 96-hour operational halt on non-essential MV-22 Osprey flights, which commenced on December 6. A Marine Corps representative stressed the pause’s intent is to evaluate additional safety requirements to maintain this vital capability’s safety and efficiency. The Marine Corps remains assured of the MV-22’s reliability.
In parallel, the Air Force has also paused CV-22 flight operations, as confirmed by Lt. Col. Rebecca Heyse of the Air Force Special Operations Command. The justification for this latest operational pause links back to a CV-22 Osprey’s precautionary landing in New Mexico during a training mission. Initial findings pinpoint a novel material failure not previously observed, though investigations are ongoing.
This recent halt follows a history of issues with the V-22 Ospreys, operated by different branches such as the Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force. Notably, a catastrophic incident in late November 2023 involving a CV-22 Osprey in Japan resulted in the tragic loss of eight service members. The grounding concluded in March, yet officials provided limited clarification on what precisely failed during the accident.
Past tragedies involving Ospreys include an MV-22 crash in Australia in August 2023, killing three Marines. Another incident in March 2022 saw four US service members lose their lives during a NATO exercise, and another crash in California later that year claimed five more lives. The California crash was attributed to mechanical failure, and affected families have since filed lawsuits against Boeing, Bell Textron Inc., and Rolls Royce, accusing them of neglecting known faults in the aircraft.
The continued suspension of V-22 Osprey flights underscores ongoing safety concerns and the military’s commitment to ensuring their air fleet’s operational integrity. As investigations proceed, the focus remains on understanding and mitigating the risks associated with these aircraft.
Source: Cnn
