The entire fleet of V-22 Osprey aircraft operated by the US military is being grounded after a CV-22 Osprey crashed off the coast of Japan, resulting in the tragic death of eight US airmen. The US Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) commander, Tony Bauernfeind, has ordered an operational standdown as a precautionary measure to mitigate risk while the investigation into the crash continues.
Preliminary investigation findings suggest a potential material failure as the cause of the mishap, but the underlying cause remains unknown. The decision to ground the fleet aims to ensure safety and address potential issues pending the completion of a thorough investigation.