US Osprey aircraft accident: Eight on board as it crashes off Japan's coast

A US military Osprey aircraft carrying eight people crashed near Japan's Yakushima Island in southern Kagoshima prefecture on Wednesday, according to a Japan Coast Guard spokesperson. The Coast Guard was notified about the crash at around 2:47 p.m. local time (12:47 a.m. ET), and the 10th Regional Coast Guard Headquarters has already sent a patrol boat and aircraft to the crash site.

The spokesperson mentioned that there is no information available at the moment about any injuries resulting from the latest fatal Osprey military aircraft crash. There have been several accidents involving Osprey military aircraft over the years.

In August of this year, an Osprey crash during military exercises in Australia resulted in the deaths of three US Marines and the serious injury of several others.

In 2022, a training mission near Glamis, California ended in tragedy when an MV-22B Osprey plane crashed, killing five US Marines. Additionally, four US service members lost their lives in the same year when their Osprey crashed during NATO training exercises in Norway.

The Osprey is an incredibly versatile aircraft capable of vertical takeoff like a helicopter, while also able to achieve high-speed cruising like a conventional turboprop plane with wings.

Although generally safe to fly, the Osprey has a history of mechanical and operational issues since its debut in the 1980s, as reported by CNN military analyst and retired US Air Force Col. Cedric Leighton.