In a tragic incident, a U.S. Air Force Bell/Boeing CV-22 Osprey crashed into the waters off southwestern Japan. The crash reportedly occurred off the coast of Yakushima Island. The Japan Coast Guard confirmed that one person onboard died in the accident. The V-22 Osprey is a transport tiltrotor aircraft that combines the capabilities of a helicopter and an airplane. The incident took place at 2:47 p.m. local time. The aircraft had six personnel on board at the time of the crash.
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The body of one of the six occupants was recovered, while the other five are still missing. The search and rescue operations are ongoing. This is not the first time an Osprey has been involved in an accident. The V-22 Osprey's history of accidents has provoked concerns about its safety. As of November 2023, 16 V-22 Ospreys have been damaged beyond repair in accidents that have killed a total of 55 people.
The U.S. military has suspended flights of all Osprey military aircraft in Japan following previous crashes. The most recent crash before this was in Hawaii in May last year, in which two U.S Marines died. The incident has stoked immediate anger among locals, some of whom have previously complained about the U.S. military bases and the Osprey aircraft's safety record. The aircraft are based at the Futenma air station in the middle of Okinawa island. Locals have long opposed the use of Ospreys, which are based in Futenma air station near densely populated neighborhoods.
The U.S. officials have stated that they will conduct an investigation into the incident. The results of this investigation will be crucial in understanding the cause of the crash and in preventing such incidents in the future. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims during this difficult time.