Washington (AP) Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is being urged by three congressmen to think about re-grounding the military’s fleet of V-22 Ospreys until safety and design flaws found by The Associated Press in its recent comprehensive analysis of the aircraft’s mishap history can be fixed.
Sens. Elizabeth Warren, Ed Markey, and Richard Neal of Massachusetts wrote to Austin in a letter to the Pentagon on Monday, stating that the V-22 should be grounded and not be used again until the serious flaws in the platform are fixed.
The AP discovered that the Osprey, which can fly like both an airplane and a helicopter, has been involved in over 21 serious mishaps, many of which can be attributed to decisions made during its creation.
Following a fatal disaster in Japan in November 2023 that claimed the lives of eight service personnel, the entire fleet was grounded for three months this year. The presidential fleet’s ospreys, which are flown by the Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps, are now able to fly again, but with some limitations.
Despite safety worries, Osprey pilots told the AP that because of the aircraft’s special qualities, they do not want to see it grounded. According to program authorities, they are developing solutions to increase the V-22’s dependability and safety.
A request for comment on the letter was not immediately answered by the Pentagon.
The lawmakers also referenced AP reports that pilots are being instructed not to use the V-22’s intermediate power option because it can wear down parts, but they must do so in order to land safely. The most recent incident occurred in October when a Japanese self-defense forces Osprey abruptly tipped and hit the ground during takeoff, a result of interim power. The pilots were found to be at fault for failing to activate the interim power during takeoff after an examination.
According to the MPs, pilots must push the aircraft to its limits in order to stay safe.
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