US grounds entire Osprey fleet after eight personnel killed in latest crash
The United States military has grounded its entire fleet of V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft after eight people died in the latest fatal accident involving the type.
An Osprey based out of Yokota Air Base was performing a routine training mission off the coast of Yakushima Island before an "aviation mishap" caused it to crash last week.
Japan, the only other country to operate the V-22, immediately grounded its own fleet of Ospreys and called on the US to suspend flights of V-22s operating in the country.
The US initially halted flights from the crashed aircraft's unit, but said other Ospreys would continue to fly after safety checks.
However, the entire Osprey contingent has now been grounded across the US Air Force, Marine Corps and Navy.
The Osprey has been criticised for being prone to accidents, although the US and Japanese governments reject this claim.
But according to the Flight Safety Foundation at least 50 personnel have died in crashes operating or testing the aircraft - and more than 20 of those deaths came after the V-22 entered service in 2007.
The multi-purpose V-22 can carry up to 24 personnel and can reach speeds of 419km/h.
At least 400 Ospreys have been delivered and are used by US forces in Japan and elsewhere.
The US Navy aircraft carrier deployed to Japan, the USS Carl Vinson, relies on the V-22 to deliver some supplies and personnel.
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