Japan Asks US to Halt V-22 Osprey Flights After Crash – Controversy Surrounds Deployment in Japan

Tokyo –

Japan asked the United States military to stop flights of V-22 aircraft Osprey after one of the planes crashed into the sea in western Japan. Of the 8 crew members, at least one died.

The US Air Force, which operates the hybrid aircraft, said that so far the cause of the Osprey crash was unknown.

“The occurrence of such an accident causes great concern for the people of the region and we ask the US side to carry out the Osprey flight in Japan once the flight is confirmed to be safe,” Japanese Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said in parliament.

Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force, which also operates the Osprey, will suspend the plane’s flights until the cause of the crash is determined.

Developed by Boeing and Bell Helicopter, the V-22 Osprey can fly like helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft. It is currently operated by the US Air Force, Marines and Navy, as well as the Japanese Self-Defense Forces.

The deployment of the aircraft in Japan has been controversial, with critics saying the planes are prone to accidents. This plane often crashes and causes quite a lot of deaths.

In August, as quoted detikINET from VOA, a US Osprey plane crashes off the coast of northern Australia while transporting troops during a routine military exercise, killing three US Marines.

Another crash occurred in the sea off the island of Okinawa in southern Japan in December 2016, resulting in the plane being temporarily grounded by the US military.

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(fyk/asj)

2023-11-30 05:00:57
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