Three Massachusetts lawmakers, including U.S. Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey and U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, are urging Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to ground the V-22 Osprey aircraft again due to multiple recent accidents, including a deadly crash in Japan. The Ospreys had been previously grounded military-wide for three months following the crash in November that killed eight service members.
The lawmakers are concerned about the aging Osprey and the unexpected failures of its parts. The unique aircraft is loved by pilots for its ability to fly fast like an airplane and land like a helicopter but has encountered issues with its engines and proprotor blades. The recent crashes, including one in Japan and another in Norway that killed Massachusetts service members, have raised concerns about the safety of the aircraft.
The Osprey had been approved for limited flight operations in March but with tight restrictions in place, limiting its ability to perform certain missions. The lawmakers are calling for the Osprey to remain grounded until the root causes of the accidents are identified and permanent fixes are put in place.
Multiple investigations and internal reviews of the V-22 program are ongoing, and the lawmakers have submitted a letter to the Department of Defense with safety questions about the aircraft. They are urging the Pentagon to prioritize the safety of service members and take action to address the issues with the Osprey.
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