(PatriotPostNews.com) – Months after the fatal crash of an Osprey military aircraft, the American military has announced that the aircraft is approved to fly again.
The Osprey vehicle—also called a Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey—combines features of both an airplane and a helicopter. According to a fact sheet from the United States Air Force, the aircraft is designed to be used in special operations for a variety of missions, like infiltration and exfiltration, supply, integrated threat responses, and radar sensors. It was first operational in 2007.
An Osprey flight tragically crashed on November 29, 2023, off the shores of Yakushima, Japan. The incident occurred while service members were conducting a routine training mission. All eight passengers on board the flight were killed. The aircraft, used in fleets by the United States Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps, was soon grounded from missions as it had seen a total of four fatal crashes in the past two years.
Since its grounding on December 6, the Osprey has undergone various revisions, including an enhanced proprotor gearbox, the development of new flight guidelines, and increased maintenance inspections. Military officials told reporters that the November crash was “unprecedented” due to an unspecified “component” of the aircraft that had failed, leading to the accident.
The Department of Defense has authorized Osprey flight programs to resume before additional investigations from Congress are finished, sparking backlash from Republican Rep. James Comer of Kentucky, the House Oversight Committee chair. Comer warned that there are still “serious concerns” about the safety of the aircraft, including “accountability measures,” risk assessment, and an overall “lack of transparency.”
Shortly after the crash in November, the Air Force confirmed that all eight passengers were dead, expressing condolences to loved ones and stating that officials were searching for the crew members’ remains and investigating the fatal accident.
Another Osprey crash occurred earlier in 2023, killing three of the 23 Marines on board. Both Japan and America suspended Osprey flights following the November crash.
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