Lawmakers Push to Ground V-22 Osprey Amid Safety Concerns

Three Massachusetts lawmakers urge Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin to ground the V-22 Osprey aircraft due to recent accidents, including a deadly crash in Japan. They label the decision to resume limited flights as 'misguided.' Ongoing investigations by Congress and internal reviews are underway.

Three Massachusetts lawmakers are urging Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin to ground the V-22 Osprey aircraft again, following multiple recent accidents, including a deadly crash in Japan.

In a letter sent Thursday, Democratic Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, along with Rep. Richard Neal, criticized the decision to return Ospreys to limited flight status as "misguided."

The V-22 had been approved for limited operations with restrictions in March, but those restrictions are set to remain until mid-2025. The aircraft was grounded for three months following a crash in Japan in November, which resulted in the deaths of eight service members. The deadly crash marked the fourth fatal accident in two years.

The lawmakers emphasized that the Department of Defence must prioritize the safety of service members, suggesting the V-22 Osprey should be grounded until the root causes of its accidents are fully understood and permanent solutions implemented. Congressional investigations and internal Pentagon reviews of the V-22 programme are ongoing. The Pentagon has yet to confirm receipt of the lawmakers' letter.

(With inputs from agencies.)