U.S. military tiltrotor aircraft crashed off shores of Japan: one service member killed
U.S. military V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft crashed near the shores of Japan ( Photo: af.mil)
A U.S. military V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft, carrying six people on board, crashed into the sea off the coast of western Japan, resulting in at least one crew member confirmed dead, with the condition of the others unknown, according to Reuters.
The Japan Coast Guard reported finding debris from a V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft and one fatality approximately 3 km from Yakushima Island.
The incident occurred around 15:00 local time (08:00 Kyiv time). Witnesses stated that the left engine of the tiltrotor aircraft caught fire as it approached the airport for an emergency landing. Yakushima is located in the Kagoshima prefecture of Japan, approximately 1040 km southwest of Tokyo.
Japan, which also operates Osprey tilt rotors, has stated that it does not plan to ban its flights but has requested the U.S. military to conduct an investigation into the crash.
V-22 Osprey Accidents
The V-22 Osprey is an American tiltrotor aircraft actively used by various branches of the U.S. military and allies. Developed by Bell over a span of more than 30 years, it is in service with the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Navy, and the U.S. Air Force. The tiltrotor aircraft is equipped with two Rolls-Royce T406 engines located at the ends of the wings, which can rotate nearly 98 degrees, transforming it from an airplane to a helicopter.
In recent years, there have been several notable aviation accidents involving the Osprey. In August, an American Osprey crashed off the coast of northern Australia during troop transport as part of military exercises, resulting in the death of three U.S. Marines.
Another aircraft made an emergency ocean landing near the southern Japanese island of Okinawa in December 2016, leading to the temporary suspension of Osprey operations by the U.S. military.
