US military grounds Osprey aircraft fleet after Japan crash
Eight American service men were aboard the tilt-rotor aircraft when it crashed last week off the coast of Yakushima Island, roughly 1,040 kilometres (650 miles) southwest of Tokyo.
Following the disaster, the V-22 Osprey aircraft's US military unit ceased flight operations. However, the US military stated that other planes will continue to fly following safety inspections.
Tokyo has expressed alarm over the Osprey flights. The aircraft's deployment in japan has been contentious, with critics of the United States' military presence in the country's southwest islands claiming it is prone to mishaps.
"The standdown will provide time and space for a thorough investigation to determine causal factors and recommendations to ensure the air Force CV-22 fleet returns to flight operations," AFSOC stated in a statement. Stay tuned with us for more updates.