US V-22 Osprey Aircraft Grounded Until 2025 Over Safety Concerns
The US Naval Air Systems Command official, Carl Chebi, recently testified to the House Oversight and Accountability Committee regarding the safety and performance of the V-22 Osprey aircraft. Chebi mentioned that in light of recent accidents, it will take approximately 6 to 9 months to evaluate the aircraft’s safety and performance, during which time the V-22 Ospreys will not be allowed to take off.
Since 2007, when the V-22 Ospreys were first put into use, there have been 64 US military personnel fatalities and 93 injuries due to accidents involving the aircraft. Chebi emphasized the army’s efforts to address component failures, which were identified as a major factor in the tragic accident that claimed the lives of 5 US sailors in June 2022. The safety evaluation of the V-22 Osprey aircraft is expected to continue until the end of the year.
During the Oversight and Accountability Committee’s assessment of the V-22 Osprey program’s oversight, committee members raised concerns about missing data and documents that were essential for their research. Following the accident in Japan in November 2023, in which 8 US soldiers lost their lives, a decision was made to keep the V-22 Ospreys grounded. The aircraft were only permitted to resume flights in March, albeit with certain restrictions in place.
The safety and performance evaluation of the V-22 Osprey aircraft remains a top priority for the US military, as they work to ensure the well-being of their personnel and prevent any future accidents involving this important aircraft.
