YUKUSHIMA, Japan: The Japanese coastguard is intensifying efforts to locate the wreckage of a US military Osprey aircraft that crashed Wednesday off the island of Yakushima.
Despite extensive search operations, seven airmen remain missing, with only one crew member found and declared dead. The CV-22B Osprey crashed during a routine training mission, prompting Japan’s defence minister to call for a temporary grounding of Ospreys in the country pending safety checks. However, the Pentagon stated it had not received an official suspension request and continues to operate the aircraft. The Osprey has a history of fatal accidents, raising concerns about its safety.
Tokyo’s defence minister, Minoru Kihara, has urged the US military in Japan to ground its Ospreys while safety checks are conducted. The call follows the crash of a CV-22B Osprey during a routine training mission off the island of Yakushima. Despite extensive search efforts, seven airmen remain missing. One crew member was found and declared dead. The coastguard is scouring the seabed for wreckage, but no new leads have emerged. Kihara’s request for a suspension of Osprey flights has not been officially received by the Pentagon, which continues to operate the aircraft. Safety concerns have been raised due to the Osprey’s history of fatal accidents.
The CV-22B Osprey’s crash off Yakushima has prompted Tokyo’s defence minister to call for a temporary grounding of Ospreys in Japan. While the Pentagon has not received an official request for suspension, the Osprey remains in operation. The coastguard continues its search for wreckage and the seven missing airmen. Photos from the crash site show an overturned yellow life raft and debris, suggesting a possible engine failure. The Osprey, capable of operating as a helicopter or fixed-wing turboprop, has faced multiple fatal accidents. Kihara expressed concerns about the Osprey’s flight continuation amid insufficient explanations regarding flight safety.
The Japanese coastguard is intensifying search operations for the wreckage of a crashed Osprey US military aircraft off Yakushima. Despite finding one dead crew member, seven airmen remain missing. Japan’s defence minister has urged a temporary grounding of Ospreys in the country pending safety checks. The Pentagon, however, stated it has not received an official suspension request and continues Osprey operations. The crash has reignited safety concerns over the Osprey, known for its history of fatal accidents. Tokyo’s defence minister voiced worries about the aircraft’s flight continuation amid unclear explanations on flight safety.
