NEW YORK– An Osprey used to transport White House staff and government officials from an event in New York on Monday was grounded for safety reasons, with one witness reporting flames under the right engine.
The personnel and officials were removed from the aircraft, which was part of the Marine Corps HMX-1 presidential helicopter fleet, and transferred to a second Osprey to continue their journey, joining President Joe Biden on a “Friendsgiving” event featuring members of the U.S. Coast Guard on Staten Island.
The issue caused only a minor delay in Biden’s return to Washington on Monday evening.
The incident occurred the same day that lawmakers sent a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin requesting that the military’s entire fleet of V-22 Ospreys be grounded again until solutions can be found to improve safety and address design issues identified by The Associated Press in its report. recent in-depth investigation into the accident history of the aircraft.
The Marine Corps did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the incident in New York. A journalist traveling with the president reported seeing a fire under the right engine shortly before personnel were notified that the Osprey would be grounded.
This isn’t the first time White House staff or reporters have had to be removed from an Osprey during a trip due to security concerns. In November 2023, an Osprey carrying reporters and White House staff returned to the ground shortly after takeoff after four loud “bangs” were heard and smoke was seen.
In the letter sent to Austin on Monday, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, and Representative Richard Neal, all Democrats from Massachusetts, said that “given current concerns about the safety of the V-22, the aircraft should be grounded and should not be redeployed until the significant deficiencies of the platform are fully addressed.”
The Osprey, which flies like a helicopter as well as an airplane, has suffered more than 21 major accidents, many of which can be traced back to design choices, the AP found.
The entire fleet was grounded for three months this year after a deadly crash in Japan in November 2023 that killed eight service members, including one from Massachusetts.
Ospreys, which are operated by the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps and used in the presidential fleet, have now returned to flying operations, with some restrictions.
Osprey pilots told the AP that despite safety concerns, they do not want to see the plane grounded because of its unique capabilities. Program officials have said they are working on solutions to improve the safety and reliability of the V-22.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter.
The lawmakers also cited AP reporting that pilots must press the V-22’s “interim power” function to land safely — but are advised against doing so because it can wear out parts. Interim forces played a role in the most recent accident in October, when a Japanese Self-Defense Forces Osprey violently overturned and hit the ground on takeoff. An investigation found that the pilots were to blame for not turning on the temporary power during takeoff.
“The reality for pilots is that they must push the aircraft to its limits to stay safe,” the lawmakers wrote.
