Lawmakers seek transparency on investigation into fatal crashes as Pentagon faces pressure.
The House Oversight Committee’s subcommittee is investigating the military’s Osprey aircraft after four separate crashes in less than two years resulted in the deaths of 20 service members. However, the Pentagon is being criticized for withholding critical safety investigation reports that could shed light on the causes of these deadly incidents.
Rep. Glenn Grothman, who chairs the national security subcommittee, expressed frustration with the Pentagon’s refusal to release these reports, stating that transparency is essential to understanding the root causes of the crashes and ensuring the safety of military personnel. Despite this, Pentagon officials argued that confidentiality was necessary to ensure candid feedback in safety investigations.
The inquiry was prompted by concerns from grieving families of the crash victims, who demand answers as to why the Osprey, a twin-rotor aircraft, continues to be involved in frequent and fatal accidents. During a hearing, Vice Adm. Carl Chebi and Gary Kurtz from the Pentagon acknowledged that the Osprey’s mishap rate has the full attention of the U.S. military leadership but stressed that safety improvements, such as a redesign of the aircraft’s clutch system, are still in progress and not expected to be completed until 2025.
Lawmakers, including Rep. Stephen F. Lynch, expressed growing concern and suggested that the aircraft should be grounded until the safety issues are fully addressed. They also proposed exploring other aircraft alternatives to avoid further risk to service members, citing the need to balance speed with safety. Rep. Scott Perry emphasized the importance of ensuring the well-being of military personnel over the urgency of deployment.
