US Air Force Halts All Osprey Transport Flights Following Japanese Crash Accident

All US Military Osprey Transport Aircraft Grounded
US Air Force "Accident Aircraft Possibly Has Structural Defect"

Regarding the incident in which a U.S. Forces Japan vertical takeoff and landing transport aircraft Osprey crashed into the sea off the southwestern coast of Japan during flight, the U.S. military announced the suspension of flights of all Osprey transport aircraft deployed at U.S. military bases worldwide. This is interpreted as a temporary suspension of operations to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the accident amid concerns of a possible aircraft defect.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to NHK on the 7th, the U.S. military has temporarily suspended flights of the U.S. Air Force Osprey CV-22 model currently stationed in Japan, but decided to extend this measure to all models worldwide. The U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command stated that a preliminary investigation into the cause of the recent Osprey crash indicated a possible aircraft defect.

Meanwhile, on the 29th of last month, the Osprey, which departed from Iwakuni Base in Yamaguchi Prefecture and was flying toward Kadena Air Base in Okinawa Prefecture, crashed into the sea near Yakushima off the southern coast of Kyushu, Japan. Of the eight personnel onboard, two remain missing, but the U.S. Air Force believes all are deceased and on the 5th changed the operation from a "rescue operation" to a "recovery operation."