Air Force, Navy Ground V-22 Fleets Amid Crash Probe

While the cause of the accident remains unknown, military investigators suspect a potential materiel failure played a part.

Kimberly Johnson

Thursday, December 07, 2023 at 11:14 AM ET

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A V-22 Osprey aircraft bound for the Japan Ground Self Defense Force (JGSDF) based at Camp Kisarazu prepares to depart Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Japan, July 6, 2020. [Courtesy: U.S. Marine Corps]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps have grounded all V-22 Osprey variants following a fatal crash off the coast of Japan.
The grounding decision stems from an investigation into a November 29 CV-22 Osprey crash that killed eight crewmembers, with preliminary findings suggesting a potential materiel failure.
This operational stand-down allows for a thorough investigation to determine the crash's cause and ensure future flight safety.
The move aligns with Japan's earlier call for the U.S. military to ground its Osprey fleet after the incident.

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The Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps grounded all V-22 Osprey variants Wednesday amid an ongoing investigation into what caused a fatal crash of an Air Force CV-22 Osprey off the coast of Japan last week.

The CV-22B assigned to the Air Force’s 353rd Special Operations Wing at Yokota Air Base, Japan, went down offshore of Yakushima Island on November 29 with eight crewmembers on board during a routine training mission. The Japan Coast Guard said it received an emergency call at the time of the incident, along with reports that the aircraft’s left engine was on fire as it fell.