The V-22 Osprey has faced a troubling rise in serious accidents over 2023 and 2024, according to a Government Accountability Office report released Friday. The aircraft experienced four fatal crashes in that period, resulting in the deaths of 20 service members, raising significant safety concerns.
The Osprey, used by the Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force, combines the vertical lift capabilities of a helicopter with the speed and range of a turboprop, allowing it to perform a wide range of missions, including personnel transport, special operations, resupply, search and rescue, and medical evacuations. While the combined fleet totals more than 400 aircraft, the GAO found that all three branches lack sufficient maintenance personnel and have not clearly assigned responsibility for addressing known safety risks or sharing safety information across services.
The report highlights that the Marine Corps and Air Force saw higher rates of serious accidents in 2023 and 2024 than in the previous eight years, with 18 non-combat incidents involving death, permanent disability, or hospitalization. Several crashes destroyed aircraft or caused damage exceeding $600,000. Key causes included airframe or engine failures, human error during flight, and maintenance mistakes. In particular, failures of the Osprey’s proprotor gearbox clutches contributed to two of the four fatal accidents, while engine surges or power loss during operations in dusty conditions or low-visibility landings also caused crashes.
The GAO recommended that the Department of Defense refine its processes for identifying, analyzing, and addressing safety risks, implement timely oversight, and improve information-sharing among the military branches. Despite its versatility and unique design—which allows its wings and rotors to fold for storage on ships—the report concludes that the Osprey’s safety issues require urgent attention to prevent further accidents.