US Military Suspends Osprey Flights Again Amid Safety Concerns

Two Air Force Special Operations Command CV-22B Ospreys fly low and fast in formation on a training range named the Hornet at Cannon Air Force Base, N.M., on Oct. 9, 2024. Tara Copp/AP Photo

The U.S. military has again suspended flights of its V-22 Osprey fleet following a recent near-crash amid mounting scrutiny over the aircraft’s safety.

Vice Adm. Carl Chebi, who oversees the Osprey program as head of Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), recommended the pause “out of an abundance of caution,” said NAVAIR spokeswoman Marcia Hart, The Associated Press reported. The Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force have all complied with the recommendation.

The Marine Corps initiated its pause on Friday, with plans to continue at least through Monday. The other branches are expected to uphold longer suspensions while they investigate the cause of metal failures in the aircraft.

This latest setback follows an “in-depth” investigation by AP, which found a significant uptick in safety issues over the past five years. The report also highlighted that parts are deteriorating faster than expected, and the aircraft’s unique design, capable of both helicopter and airplane flight modes, is one of the main reasons behind accidents.

In response to the findings, lawmakers have urged Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to ground the Osprey fleet until safety and design issues can be addressed.

The recent incident at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico on Nov. 20 resembled a fatal crash off the coast of Japan in Nov. 2022. That accident, which claimed the lives of eight Air Force Special Operations Command service members, was attributed to metal parts that were weakened within the Osprey’s transmission.

The Japan crash investigation revealed that metal inclusions—weakened spots in the material—led to gear failure and a catastrophic aircraft breakdown. The crew in that incident also didn’t immediately recognize the severity of the issue.

The Cannon incident, while still under investigation, appears to have benefited from lessons learned from the Japan crash. The crew received similar warnings shortly after takeoff and lost an engine but managed to land safely.

Training Flights Paused

Lt. Gen Michael Conley, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), has directed a pause for all Osprey training flights. IAFSOC spokeswoman Lt. Col. Becky Heyse said in a statement that this pause “allows time and space for us to understand what happened,” reported AP.

The metal at the center of the incidents is X-53 VIMVAR. Investigators found that the gear that failed in the Japan crash contained multiple inclusions, which are microscopic weak spots caused by foreign substances mixing into the metal during manufacturing, which can lead to cracking over time.

Since the Japan crash, seven previous cracking incidents in gears have been attributed to the same metal weakness, according to investigators cited by AP.

The military and Bell Flight, which manufactures the transmission system and assembles the Osprey in Amarillo, Texas, have been working to strengthen the metal.

The Osprey’s safety record has been a concern throughout its three-decade operational history. According to AP, 64 personnel have been killed and 93 injured in Osprey crashes. The aircraft’s safety issues have also raised concerns internationally, with Japan’s military briefly grounding its fleet in October after an Osprey tilted violently during takeoff and struck the ground.

From NTD News