Safety Concerns: Should Ospreys Stay Grounded?

Three politicians from Massachusetts have asked the Pentagon’s top boss to think about grounding the military’s V-22 Ospreys until safety issues are fixed. These planes, which can fly like both a helicopter and an airplane, have been involved in over 21 major crashes. Many of these accidents are linked to design choices made long ago. In November 2023, a crash in Japan killed eight service members, including one from Massachusetts. This led to the whole fleet being grounded for three months. Now, the planes are flying again, but with some rules.

Pilots love the Osprey because it can do things other planes can’t. But they also worry about its safety. The lawmakers’ letter mentioned that pilots sometimes have to push the plane’s power to the max just to land safely. This can cause parts to wear out. In fact, this was a problem in a crash in Japan last October. The Pentagon hasn’t said anything about the letter yet. But program officials are working on making the Ospreys safer and more reliable.

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