The U.S. military has announced the temporary grounding of its V-22 Osprey aircraft fleet following a fatal crash that occurred off the coast of Japan, resulting in the tragic loss of eight lives.
Tokyo swiftly followed suit, suspending its own limited Osprey operations, reigniting debates surrounding the aircraft’s safety record.
Critics in Japan have long voiced concerns about the Osprey’s accident-proneness, while both the U.S. and Japanese governments continue to refute these claims.
The crash transpired during a routine training mission on November 29 near Yakushima Island, approximately 1,040 kilometers (650 miles) southwest of Tokyo.
Preliminary investigation findings suggest a potential materiel failure as the cause, though the exact underlying reason remains unknown, according to the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC).
Boeing reports that around 400 multipurpose Ospreys have been delivered, primarily for use by the U.S. Air Force, Marines, and Navy, both in Japan and worldwide.
The USS Carl Vinson, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier stationed in Japan, relies on these aircraft to transport supplies and personnel.
The grounding of the Osprey fleet raises concerns about training and readiness.
Grant Newsham, a retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel and research fellow at the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies, noted that an extended grounding could lead to significant disruptions.
Japan, the only other nation operating Ospreys, promptly grounded its 14 aircraft and requested that the U.S. suspend V-22 flights in the country.
While the U.S. initially paused flights for the affected unit, it continued other Osprey operations after safety checks.
It is customary for the U.S. military to temporarily ground entire aircraft fleets following fatal accidents.
Japan’s defense ministry confirmed that its aircraft remained grounded and emphasized the utmost priority of ensuring flight safety.
The Osprey’s deployment in Japan has faced resistance, particularly among residents of the country’s southwest Okinawan islands, where a substantial U.S. military presence has existed since World War II.
The recent crash is not an isolated incident, with previous accidents involving the Osprey resulting in casualties.
The Flight Safety Foundation reports that at least 50 personnel have lost their lives in Osprey-related crashes during operations or testing, with over 20 of these fatalities occurring after the V-22 entered service in 2007.
In August, three U.S. Marines perished in an Osprey crash off the northern Australian coast during a routine military exercise.
In 2022, four U.S. personnel were killed when an Osprey crashed in remote northern Norway during a NATO training exercise.