The US has halted flights of Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey aircraft due to safety concerns. Technical malfunctions and past crashes may delay the resumption of flights until 2025. Read more for details!
The US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) announced the operational suspension of Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft as of December 6, 2024. The decision was made due to safety concerns and recent technical malfunctions.
Precautionary Landing at Cannon Air Force Base
NAVAIR spokesperson Neil Lobeda stated, “We recommended an operational pause for all V-22 Osprey variants. This decision was taken as an extreme precaution following the precautionary landing of a CV-22 Osprey at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico, on November 20.” No injuries were reported among the crew during the incident.
The Osprey has come under scrutiny due to technical issues that resemble those linked to a fatal crash off the coast of Japan on November 29, 2023. In that incident, eight soldiers lost their lives due to weaknesses in transmission gears.
Safety Concerns and Technical Failures
Investigations into the 2023 crash in Japan revealed critical malfunctions in the Osprey’s drive system, raising significant concerns about flight safety. These issues have led to asymmetric lift problems, causing loss of control.
At Cannon Air Force Base, the crew detected the malfunction early and safely landed the aircraft, but previous incidents resulted in severe fatalities.
Impacts of the Operational Pause
The suspension of Osprey flights has a direct impact on US military operations and training programs. While NAVAIR has not provided a specific timeline for resuming flights, it is anticipated that full operational capability may not be restored before mid-2025.
The V-22 Osprey program had previously been grounded globally in 2023 and partially resumed operations in March 2024. However, ongoing flight restrictions have prevented the aircraft from achieving full operational capacity.
The Future of the Osprey
Despite its innovative tiltrotor design enabling vertical takeoff and landing, the V-22 Osprey has faced criticism for its complexity and frequent safety issues. NAVAIR is conducting engineering tests and analyses to establish criteria ensuring flight safety.
Rear Admiral Chebi stated, “We are setting criteria for a return to full operational capability. However, this process may extend until mid-2025.”
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