Safety concerns arise regarding US military's V-22 aircraft after Osprey crash in Japan.

Concerns about the safety of the US military's V-22 Osprey aircraft have resurfaced after a deadly crash off the coast of Japan. This incident marks the fourth fatal accident involving US-operated Ospreys in the past two years. While Japan, the only other nation to operate Ospreys, has grounded its fleet and asked the US to do the same until the cause of the crash is determined, the US has refused and maintained that the aircraft is safe. The Pentagon is yet to determine the cause of the crash, but previous incidents have raised concerns about clutch issues and difficulties in maintaining this complex aircraft. The V-22 Osprey is a unique tiltrotor aircraft that combines helicopter and turboprop functionality. It takes off and lands like a helicopter but flies like an airplane in flight, enabling it to travel faster and cover longer distances. The US Marine Corps, US Navy, and US Air Force's Special Operations Command, as well as the Japanese military, operate hundreds of Ospreys. While the aircraft has seen active service in various military operations, including combat missions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya, it has also been involved in several mishaps and accidents that have raised concerns about its safety and airworthiness. Japan has officially requested that US Ospreys operating in its territory be grounded due to safety concerns and a lack of sufficient explanation from the US. In the past, the Air Force's Osprey program overseer expressed concerns about the aircraft's readiness and maintenance difficulties. Recent accidents include a crash in Australia that resulted in three US Marines being killed and another in Norway that claimed the lives of four Marines due to pilot error. The investigation into the California crash determined clutch problems to be the cause, leading to temporary grounding of the fleet. Despite these high-profile accidents, statistics show that the Osprey is not more dangerous to operate than other aircraft in the US military. In fact, the Marine Corps has cited a lower mishap rate for its Ospreys compared to several other aircraft types. The Pentagon assures that all necessary safety measures are taken, and thorough maintenance and safety checks are conducted before all Osprey flights in Japan. Investigating authorities are still working to determine the exact cause of the recent crash, and the Pentagon will take appropriate actions if the investigation yields any necessary changes or additional steps.