The United States Armed Forces may resume V-22 Osprey flights later this month. Tiltor rotor aircraft are stops since December last year due to a fatal accident in Japan. 

After a meeting with Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, Pentagon officials confirmed to AP that the Ospreys will soon fly again. According to the agency, the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), which coordinates the V-22 project, has developed plans to ensure a safe return of the V-22s. 

It was NAVAIR itself that grounded the aircraft after two fatal accidents involving the model last year. The first occurred in August with a Marine Corps MV-22, which crashed during an exercise in Australia, resulting in the deaths of three soldiers. The second accident occurred in November 2023, on the island of Yakushima, southwest of Japan, involving an Air Force CV-22 Osprey, killing eight people. 

The US Marines, Navy and Air Force operate the V-22, a model manufactured by Bell-Boeing that stands out for its versatility. The tilt rotors allow the V-22 to land and take off like a helicopter, and fly at the same speed as an airplane. 

On the other hand, the V-22 is also recognized for its high number of accidents and problematic maintenance. This is the third time that the US has grounded Osprey flights as a security measure. The last time was in 2022 after a failure in the transmission system, which led to the forced landing of a CV-22 on an island in Norway.

It will be up to NAVAIR to give the green light for the return of V-22 Osprey operations. The Command is also expected to share the new guidelines with Japan, whose Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) operates some MV-22 version units. Japan is also the aircraft's only export customer.