The Pentagon has temporarily grounded its fleet of V-22 Osprey aircraft following concerns over weakened metal components that may have contributed to a recent near-crash. This marks the latest challenge for the embattled tiltrotor aircraft, which has faced increasing safety issues in recent years.
The decision to pause flights was recommended by Vice Adm. Carl Chebi, head of Naval Air Systems Command, “out of an abundance of caution,” according to spokeswoman Marcia Hart. The Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force have all implemented the suspension, with the Marines’ pause beginning Friday and lasting through at least Monday. Other branches are expected to extend their grounding as investigations continue.
The incident prompting the pause occurred at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico on Nov. 20. The Osprey crew experienced an engine failure shortly after takeoff but managed to land safely, avoiding a catastrophe. Preliminary findings suggest metal weaknesses in a critical component may have played a role, though the affected part differs from the failure that caused a deadly crash off Japan’s coast last year, killing eight service members.
An Associated Press investigation last month revealed that Osprey safety issues have worsened in the past five years, with parts wearing out faster than anticipated and design flaws contributing to accidents. Following the report, lawmakers urged Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to ground the fleet until solutions addressing these risks are implemented.
Lessons learned from the Japan crash likely contributed to the successful emergency landing in the Cannon incident. Lt. Gen. Michael Conley, commander of Air Force Special Operations Command, has ordered a halt to Osprey training flights to allow time for a thorough review. The Pentagon and the services involved are committed to addressing these safety concerns before resuming operations.
