In Tokyo, a US military V-22 Osprey aircraft crashed near an island in western Japan on Wednesday, carrying eight individuals, according to Japan’s coast guard.
The incident occurred at approximately 2:47 p.m. local time (0547 GMT) near the island’s airport. Witnesses reported that the aircraft’s left engine appeared to be on fire as it descended. The coast guard promptly deployed patrol boats and aircraft to the crash site off Yakushima island, but as of now, there are no further details regarding the incident or the status of those onboard. A spokesperson for US forces in the region stated that they are still in the process of gathering information.
The aircraft vanished from radar screens at 2:40 p.m. local time, as disclosed by Japan Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno. This incident follows a similar one in August when a US Osprey crashed off the northern coast of Australia during a routine military exercise, resulting in the tragic loss of three US Marines. Additionally, in December 2016, another Osprey crash-landed in the ocean off Japan’s southern island of Okinawa, leading to a temporary grounding of the aircraft by the US military.
The V-22 Osprey, a tilt-rotor plane capable of both helicopter and fixed-wing flight, is utilized by the US Marines, US Navy, and the Japan Self Defense Forces. However, its deployment in Japan has stirred controversy, with critics expressing concerns about its safety record. While the US military and Japan maintain that the Osprey is safe, previous incidents have fueled skepticism about the reliability of this hybrid aircraft.
Also read: Tragedy Strikes: US Military Aircraft Crash off Japan’s Yakushima Island
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