Air Force to deploy Osprey aircraft in weeks following review over deadly crash

NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (AP) — Air Force Special Operations Command is weeks away from deploying its fleet of CV-22B Osprey aircraft for counter terror operations after grounding its crews in the wake of a fatal crash last November in Japan, its top commander said Wednesday.

In the months since the crash, which killed eight service members, the command has taken a hard look at the issues that have challenged the fleet, Lt. Gen. Mike Conley said.

The Osprey, which can fly like both a helicopter and an airplane, had four fatal crashes in the past two years, killing a total of 20 service members. The Associated Press has reported on the mechanical and safety issues the Osprey has faced, and multiple reviews are underway to see if the complex aircraft has the resources needed to improve its reliability.

Two of the recent deadly crashes were caused partly by catastrophic and unprecedented parts failures. The fleet also has been challenged by recurring maintenance issues, which meant there weren’t enough available aircraft ready for pilots to train on.

“What kept us grounded is not necessarily what got us grounded in the first place,” Conley told reporters Wednesday at an Air Force conference in Maryland.

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