Since March 2022, the V-22 Osprey program has experienced four crashes, resulting in the loss of 20 American service members. The most recent incident occurred last November, when a crew of eight Air Force airmen died in a V-22 crash off the coast of Japan. This crash, along with previous ones, prompted a service-wide stand-down of the Osprey as the investigation into the November 2023 crash progressed.
The investigation revealed that a “catastrophic failure” in one of the aircraft’s gearboxes contributed to the crash. In May, the aircraft resumed flights but only within 30 minutes of an alternate landing site.
Signs of progress have emerged. The aircraft will be deployed again, albeit with the same restrictions. Lt. Gen. Michael Conley, the new commander of the Air Force Special Operations Command, confirmed this development.
“We have about 60% of the fleet back to flying. We have a similar number of aircrew fully returned.” Conley said. “We followed a crawl, walk, run approach, requalifying our instructors and evaluators quickly, then trickling down to copilots and others in the squadron.”
While Conley did not disclose the deployment locations for the Ospreys, he did confirm that they would not be sent to Europe or the Indo-Pacific. Speaking at the 2024 Air, Space, and Cyber Conference in September, he expressed satisfaction with the program’s current status.
“We grounded the fleet for the right reasons, based on the evidence we had at the time,” Conley explained. “During the grounding period, we learned more. We reflected on the whole program, and what kept us grounded was not necessarily what grounded us initially. We have been deliberate, slow, and methodical to ensure we used the time wisely to bring us back up to speed.”
As one of the few aircraft used by multiple service branches, the stand-down provided an opportunity to strengthen inter-service relationships. Conley noted that everyone involved worked together to get the V-22s back in the air.
“Sometimes opportunity arises from crisis. The relationship we have now with NAVAIR, the Marine Corps, PMA-275, and General Richardson’s team at AFMC is probably as strong as it has ever been. As we look to keep the DoD V-22 fleet relevant for decades, these partnerships have grown stronger,” Conley said.
Regarding guidance for crews potentially facing the same issues that contributed to the November 2023 crash, Conley mentioned new safety procedures. Pilots are now advised to land after a second warning about metal fragments in the Osprey gearbox, whereas the previous standard called for three warnings before a mandatory landing.
“At the end of the day, aircraft commander and crew discretion will always play a role. The environments are unique depending on where we fly and what we do, but we have tightened the guidance to reduce ambiguity for the crews,” Conley stated.
In June, U.S. Naval Air Systems Command Chief Vice Adm. Carl Chebi informed a congressional hearing that the Osprey would not return to full-flight status until sometime in 2025.
