A Marine Corps Osprey transporting White House staff in New York was grounded Monday after flames were observed under the right engine, per one witness. Those aboard were transferred to another Osprey to continue their journey with President Joe Biden to a "Friendsgiving" event at Staten Island's Coast Guard base. This incident only minimally delayed Biden's return to Washington that evening.
The grounding came as lawmakers urged Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to halt operation of the military's V-22 Osprey fleet until safety and design issues are resolved, following an Associated Press investigation into the aircraft's accident history. Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, and Representative Richard Neal, expressed that "the aircraft should be grounded, and should not be deployed again until the platform's significant deficiencies are fully addressed." The Pentagon has yet to respond to requests for comment on the matter.
This is not the first safety concern regarding Ospreys involved with White House travel. Last year, an Osprey carrying reporters and staff made an emergency return shortly after takeoff. Ospreys, which fly like both helicopters and planes, have operated under restrictions since a fatal crash in Japan last year killed eight servicemembers. Despite the issues, pilots have emphasized the aircraft's unique capabilities and their reluctance to see it grounded. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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