WASHINGTON — The navy introduced late Wednesday it was grounding all of its Osprey V-22 helicopters, one week after eight Air Force Special Operations Command service members died in a crash off the coast of Japan.
The Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps took the extraordinary step of grounding lots of of plane after a preliminary investigation of final week’s crash indicated {that a} materiel failure – that one thing went flawed with the plane – and never a mistake by the crew led to the deaths.
The crash raised new questions in regards to the security of the Osprey, which has been concerned in a number of deadly accidents over its comparatively quick time in service. Japan grounded its fleet of 14 Ospreys after the crash.
Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, head of Air Force Special Operations Command, directed the standdown “to mitigate risk while the investigation continues,” the command mentioned in an announcement. “Preliminary investigation information indicates a potential materiel failure caused the mishap, but the underlying cause of the failure is unknown at this time.”
In a separate discover, Naval Air Systems Command mentioned it was grounding all Ospreys. The command is accountable for the Marine Corps and Navy variants of the plane.
The Air Force mentioned it was unknown how lengthy the plane could be grounded. It mentioned the standdown was anticipated to stay in place till the investigation has decided the reason for the Japan crash and made suggestions to permit the fleet to return to operations.
The U.S.-made Osprey is a hybrid plane that takes off and lands like a helicopter however can rotate its propellers ahead and cruise a lot sooner, like an airplane, throughout flight. Air Force Special Operations Command has 51 Ospreys, the U.S. Marine Corps flies greater than 400 and U.S. Navy operates 27.
The Osprey remains to be a comparatively younger aircraft within the navy’s fleet – the primary Ospreys solely turned operational in 2007 after many years of testing. But greater than 50 troops have died both flight testing the Osprey or conducting coaching flights within the plane, together with 20 deaths in 4 crashes over the previous 20 months.
An Osprey accident in August in Australia killed three Marines. That accident additionally remains to be below investigation.
