Washington, D.C. (Agencies): The US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has once again grounded the entire fleet of Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey aircraft due to ongoing safety concerns. This decision follows a precautionary landing of a CV-22 Osprey at Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico on November 20, 2024, which fortunately resulted in no injuries.
Earlier, two US senators and one House member had called for a halt to the use of all Osprey aircraft due to safety concerns. The recent incident has raised further questions about the reliability of the tiltrotor aircraft, which has faced multiple safety issues over the past five years.
The Osprey’s complex design, with wings extending from both sides and helicopter propellers mounted vertically at the tips, has contributed to several crashes. The Japan Self-Defense Force had previously suspended flights of its Osprey fleet after a fatal crash in November 2023, which claimed the lives of eight servicemen.
NAVAIR has not indicated how long the operational pause will last, but it is expected to affect both military operations and training schedules. The military is committed to ensuring the safety of its personnel and is conducting thorough investigations to address the root causes of these incidents.