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Military officials have decided to allow the V-22 Osprey to resume flying operations despite ongoing investigations into recent crashes, including a fatal incident involving an Air Force Special Operations Command Osprey last November off the coast of Japan, which resulted in the death of eight airmen.

This decision comes after the aircraft was grounded for nearly three months due to discovering a new mechanical failure, the specifics of which remain largely undisclosed to the public. The V-22 Joint Program Office, a segment of Naval Air Systems Command responsible for the aircraft, has cited data analysis as the rationale behind lifting the grounding, even though the complete understanding of the recent mechanical failure is still in progress.

This marks the second known mechanical issue for the Osprey, following a longstanding problem with its clutch assemblies that has led to multiple mishaps over the years. Changes being implemented are not hardware modifications but adjustments to inspection and maintenance protocols aimed at addressing this new issue.

In response to the crash and the earlier incident involving a Marine Corps Osprey in Australia, the program office has faced scrutiny from both families associated with the Osprey and a House chairman overseeing safety inquiries. Despite this, Col. Brian Taylor, the program manager, assured in a briefing that there is “high confidence” in understanding the component failure and its mechanics, yet admitted the cause of the failure remains unclear.

The grounding lift comes as the Air Force, Marine Corps, and Navy cautiously plan the reintroduction of the Osprey into their operations. All services have emphasized the importance of comprehensive simulator training for their crews during the grounding period to maintain their operational capabilities.