The U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps have decided to ground their fleets of Ospreys after a preliminary investigation indicated a potential materiel failure that may have caused a crash off Japan, resulting in the presumed death of all eight airmen on board. The grounding encompasses nearly 500 military aircraft, with each branch expressing a need for a thorough investigation to determine the underlying cause of the failure. The Osprey, known for its complex design combining helicopter and fixed-wing capabilities, has faced safety concerns, and the recent crash marks the latest in a series of fatal incidents. The decision to continue flying Ospreys in Japan despite Japan grounding its own fleet had sparked calls for the U.S. to halt Osprey flights until safety assurances were provided. This incident adds to the Osprey’s troubled safety history and raises questions about its continued use in military operations.

The bodies of three airmen have been recovered, while three others have been located, shifting the operation from rescue to recovery. Two bodies remain missing. The preliminary findings have brought renewed scrutiny to the Osprey, which has experienced previous crashes, resulting in over 60 deaths since the 1990s. The U.S. #military temporarily grounded its Osprey fleet in Japan in 2016 following another crash. The latest accident occurred during a routine #training #exercise, underscoring ongoing safety challenges associated with the #aircraft. Japan’s defense minister had called for a halt to Osprey #flights in the country, further highlighting international concerns over the Osprey’s safety record.