V-22 Osprey Cleared for Flight After Safety Review

The Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) has announced that, effective from March 8, 2024, at 7 a.m. EST, the V-22 Osprey will be cleared for flight, effectively ending the grounding order that was put in place in response to a tragic accident. This decision comes after a comprehensive review and a commitment to ensuring the safety of aircrews, following an incident that resulted in the loss of eight Airmen off the coast of Yakushima, Japan, on November 29, 2023.

The grounding, initiated on December 6, 2023, allowed for a detailed investigation into the material failure of a component in the V-22, which was identified as a contributing factor to the mishap. The U.S. Air Force led the investigation into the accident, with NAVAIR working closely alongside to pinpoint the failure and develop measures to prevent future occurrences.

As part of the efforts to ensure a safe return to flight operations, maintenance and procedural adjustments have been made. These changes address the identified material failure and are designed to enhance safety across all V-22 operations. The U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force will follow service-specific guidelines to execute their return to flight plans.

NAVAIR has emphasized its ongoing commitment to transparency and the utmost safety in all V-22 operations. The V-22 Osprey is crucial to the United States' defense strategy, and its return to the skies is seen as vital for supporting national interests. NAVAIR assures that it will continue to closely monitor data and trends from the V-22 and all other aircraft platforms to ensure that service members have access to the safest and most reliable aircraft available.