NEW YORK– An Osprey used to transport White House staff and government officials from an event in New York on Monday was grounded due to safety concerns, with a witness reporting flames under the right engine.
Personnel and officials were removed from the aircraft, part of the Marine Corps’ fleet of HMX-1 presidential helicopters, and transferred to a second Osprey to continue their journey accompanying President Joe Biden to a “Friendsgiving” event with members of the U.S. Coast Guard in Staten Island.
This problem caused only a slight delay in Biden’s return to Washington on Monday evening.
The incident occurred the same day lawmakers sent a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin asking him to ground the military’s entire fleet of V-22 Ospreys until solutions can be put in place to address safety and design issues identified by The Associated Press in its report. recent in-depth investigation into the plane crash file.
The Marine Corps did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the New York incident. A reporter traveling with the president reported seeing a fire under the right engine shortly before personnel were informed that the Osprey would be grounded.
This is not the first time White House staffers or reporters have had to be kicked out of an Osprey while traveling for security reasons. In November 2023, an Osprey carrying journalists and White House staff returned to the ground shortly after takeoff after four loud “pops” were heard and smoke was seen.
In the letter sent Monday to Austin, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, as well as Representative Richard Neal, all Democrats of Massachusetts, said that “given current concerns about the safety of the V-22, the aircraft should be grounded and should not be deployed again until the significant deficiencies in the platform are fully corrected. »
The Osprey, which flies like both a helicopter and a plane, has suffered more than 21 major accidents, many of which can be linked to choices made during its design, the AP found.
The entire fleet was grounded for three months this year following a fatal accident in Japan in November 2023 that killed eight service members, including one from Massachusetts.
The Ospreys, which are operated by the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps and used in the presidential fleet, are now returning to flight operations, with some restrictions.
Osprey pilots told the AP they did not want to see the plane grounded, despite safety concerns, because of its unique capabilities. Program officials said they are working on fixes to improve the safety and reliability of the V-22.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter.
Lawmakers also cited the AP report that pilots must press the V-22’s “temporary power” function to land safely — but are advised not to do so because it can wear out parts. Interim power was a factor in the latest accident in October, when a Japan Self-Defense Force Osprey banked violently and hit the ground during takeoff. An investigation determined that the pilots were responsible for not activating temporary power during takeoff.
“The reality for pilots is that they must push the aircraft to its limits to stay safe,” the lawmakers wrote.
