Japan Asks U.S. to Keep Osprey Flights Halted

Jiji Press

10:43 JST, December 14, 2023

TOKYO (Jiji Press) — Defense Minister Minoru Kihara on Tuesday reiterated the country’s demand that the United States not resume flying Ospreys until the safety of the tilt-rotor military transport aircraft is confirmed.

Kihara made the demand in telephone talks with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

The U.S. military grounded its entire fleet of Ospreys last week after a U.S. Air Force CV-22 Osprey crashed off the coast of southwestern Japan on Nov. 29, leaving all eight crew members dead.