US House Republicans Float Pentagon Subpoena into Osprey Crashes

Facts

• US House Republicans James Comer and Glenn Grothman threatened on Tuesday to subpoena top Pentagon officials over V-22 Osprey military aircraft accidents, which have killed over 20 personnel in four crashes over two years.¹
• In a press release, the two informed Defense Sec. Lloyd Austin that they'd resort to the 'compulsory process' over information they say his department is 'withholding from Congress.' Comer and Grothman both serve leadership roles on committees over oversight and national security.²
• In December 2023, the US grounded its V-22 Osprey choppers after a crash in Japan killed eight, while three Marines died in another incident in August in Australia.³
• In February, the Pentagon said it may have identified the mechanical failure that caused the Japan crash and was mulling reinstating the 400 grounded aircraft.⁴
• The grounding ended a month later. The tiltrotor Osprey can fly like a plane and land like a chopper and is used to transport combat troops.⁵
• The Republicans are now seeking to probe reports of every major Osprey crash since 1991 — the US military has reportedly flown it from 1989. The Dept. of Defense says that it has already provided the House with 3.5K documents and will continue to cooperate with their requests.¹

Sources: ¹NBC, ²Oversight, ³BBC News, ⁴The Asahi Shimbun and ⁵Daily Mail.

Narratives

• Narrative A, as provided by Independent. The V-22 Osprey crash off the Japanese coast revived long-running concerns about the aircraft's safety. Multiple fatalities have been reported in a series of Osprey incidents worldwide. Despite the Osprey being accident-prone, the US military has insisted on its safety. It remains secretive and opaque regarding the true risks and maintenance of the Osprey.
• Narrative B, as provided by Space. Recent incidents aside, the Bell Boeing V-22 Osprey's safety record is statistically better than many other military aircraft while offering unmatched versatility. Critics cite its cost and mechanical issues, yet its innovative design has proven invaluable in military operations. The US military's continued investment in the Osprey highlights its strategic importance and potential, suggesting its poor reputation is not entirely deserved.

Predictions