Japan Grounds V-22 Osprey Fleet After Unexpected Tilt Incident

Japan has grounded its fleet of V-22 Osprey aircraft following an incident last Sunday where one of the hybrid helicopter-aircraft unexpectedly tilted and made contact with the ground during takeoff. The incident occurred during the joint U.S. military exercise Keen Sword, with 16 passengers on board, including three U.S. service members.

According to Japan's Ground Self Defense Forces, the aircraft became unstable and swayed from side to side, causing the lower part of the left wing to hit the ground. The flight was subsequently aborted, and although no one was injured, the aircraft sustained damage.

This incident marks the first major issue with Japan's V-22 fleet since a U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command Osprey crash off Japan's coast last November, resulting in the deaths of eight service members and a monthslong grounding of the fleet.

Defense Minister Gen Nakatani announced that Japan's fleet of over a dozen V-22s will remain grounded pending an investigation into the incident. Despite concerns, Nakatani stated, “We believe there is no safety problem with Ospreys, although ensuring flight safety is a prerequisite for aircraft operations.”

The Pentagon's V-22 joint program office is supporting Japan's investigation, with spokesman Neil Lobeda confirming their involvement. The incident occurred on the Japanese island of Yonaguni, approximately 62 miles east of Taiwan, during the joint exercise Keen Sword.