Military pauses Osprey flights again after recent near-crash
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Ospreys are seen at Delaware Air National Guard Base on March 22. Photo: Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images
The U.S. military is again pausing Osprey aircraft flights following a near-crash last month.
Why it matters: This is the latest setback for the U.S. Osprey fleet, which was temporarily grounded last year following a series of fatal crashes in recent years.
The big picture: The temporary pause comes after an Osprey aircraft was involved in a near-crash last month in New Mexico, Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) spokesperson Lt. Col. Rebecca Heyse said in a statement.
- The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) recommended the operational pause of all V-22 Osprey variants on Friday, Neil Lobeda, a spokesperson for the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division, told Axios in a statement Monday.
- "The safety of our V-22 aircrew is our top priority. We are committed to ensuring our Sailors, Airmen and Marines are able to successfully complete their missions and return home safely," Lobeda said.
- The temporary pause "allows time and space for us to understand what happened in the most recent event before we accept risk with unknown variables," Heyse added.
Zoom in: Both the Navy and Air Force are complying with the pause, according to AP, which first reported the grounding.
- A Marine Corps spokesperson said in a statement Monday that it had "decided to implement a 96-hour operational pause for non-essential flight operations starting on December 6."
- The pause would allow the Marine Corps time to decide if additional safety measures are necessary, the spokesperson added, though they stressed the corps "remains confident in the safety and effectiveness of the MV-22."
What they're saying: The Pentagon said in a statement Monday that safety was a "core value" of the department and that it "continues to actively review and enhance safety measures."
Zoom out: A fatal crash off the coast of Japan involving an Osprey aircraft in Nov. 2023 helped reignite scrutiny about the aircraft's safety.
Our thought bubble from Axios' Colin Demarest: There's a stark contrast between what military leaders are saying publicly and the response to the crashes by grounding and implementing flight limitations for Ospreys.
Go deeper: What to know about Ospreys after the latest fatal crash
Editor's note: This story has been updated with a response from the Pentagon and Marine Corps.
