Families of Air Force Crash Victims Dispute Report's Criticism of Crew

An attorney representing the families of two victims of a November Air Force CV-22 Osprey crash has disputed the recently released accident report's criticism of the crew, saying it unfairly adds to the families' pain and suffering. The report found a catastrophic mechanical failure caused the crash, but also suggested the crew could have responded differently, a point contested by the attorney and his clients.

The crash, which occurred off the southern coast of Japan on November 29, killed all eight Air Force special operations airmen on board. The investigation found gearbox components began chipping and shredding debris, causing the left proprotor to stop turning and the aircraft to plummet to the ground.

However, Air Force investigators also placed some blame on the crew, saying they "inadequately prioritized continuing the mission over considerations related to the risk of extended flight without redundancy." Attorney Timothy Loranger, who represents the families, said this finding overlooks the mechanical issues that caused the tragedy and focuses on whether the crew could have done more.

Loranger highlighted larger themes with the V-22, pointing to a cultural issue of downplaying concerns as mechanical issues continue to plague the aircraft. He also represents families of Marines killed in a 2022 V-22 Osprey training crash in California, who filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the manufacturers in May.

The Air Force has since changed its procedures regarding warnings of chips in the gearbox, with crews now asked to land as soon as practical after a single chip burn warning and "as soon as possible" after a second warning. Loranger said it's hard to criticize the crew given this change, and that the procedure itself was flawed.