Marines Plan to Fly Ospreys Again Soon
The Marine Corps intends to resume flying its MV-22 Osprey aircraft “in the very near future,” before completing the investigation of last weekend’s fatal crash in Arizona, the Marines’ top aviation official said Tuesday.
Lt. Gen. Fred McCorkle said at a Pentagon news conference that flying would resume unless the initial investigation reveals a major mechanical or design flaw, in which case the Osprey fleet would be grounded.
Flights of the four remaining production-model Ospreys were temporarily halted immediately after Saturday’s accident at Marana, Ariz., as a gesture of sympathy for the families of the 19 Marines killed in the unexplained accident.
Gen. James Jones, the Marine Corps commandant, voiced concern that some families of the victims believe, mistakenly, that the Osprey aircraft was an experimental aircraft.
“These are certified airworthy aircraft,” Jones said, noting that all testing of the planes has been completed.
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