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The United States Air Force has officially resumed Osprey flights in Japan following an accident last year that involved a CV-22 crash near Yakushima Island, resulting in the deaths of all eight personnel on board.

The incident on November 29th, 2023, led to the grounding of the Osprey fleet for an extensive investigation. The aircraft, known for its unique tiltrotor design, resumed operations at Yokota Air Base after 216 days, with the 374th Airlift Wing confirming the return to flight without specifying details of the operations.

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Lieutenant Colonel Matthew Davis, commander of the 21st Special Operations Squadron, reassured the public of their commitment to safety, stating, “We remain steadfast in our commitment to ensuring the safety of the men and women who operate our aircraft and the safety of our community both on base and in Japan.”

Wreckage Believed To Belong To The U.s. Military Aircraft V 22 Osprey That Crashed Into The Sea Is Collected At Anbo Port At Yakushima Island

Despite this assurance, some residents of Fussa, the urban area surrounding Yokota, expressed their concerns. A city spokesman said, “We are concerned for the safety since there has not been sufficient explanation provided on the cause of the accident and the measures to be taken.”

In response to these concerns, Davis said the Air Force has stringent safety protocols in place. He said, “We would not fly this aircraft without full confidence in the measures, the maintenance professionals implementing them, and the skilled professionals who fly it.”

This development comes as the cause of the November crash is still under investigation by AFSOC. Officials confirmed a component failure on the CV-22 involved but haven’t ruled out other contributing factors. In March, Marine Corps Col. Brian Taylor hinted that investigators might know what caused the crash. He told reporters, “We have high confidence that we understand what component failed, and how it failed. I think what we are still working on is the why and so that is still in the hands of the investigation.”

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