A congressional probe has been launched into the US military's controversial Osprey program following a series of deadly crashes involving the aircraft. The program, which has been plagued with problems throughout its 30-year history, has resulted in the deaths of over 50 US service members. The investigation was initiated by the US House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Accountability, with committee chairman and Republican Representative James Comer leading the effort. In a letter addressed to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, the committee expressed concerns about the safety and performance issues surrounding the Osprey program.

The letter highlighted the committee's intention to seek extensive documentation from the Pentagon in order to better understand the Osprey program's performance, safety, and oversight. It also emphasized the urgency of resolving known mechanical issues that put servicemembers at risk. While the Osprey may not be statistically considered as dangerous as some other military aircraft, the committee remains alarmed that most fatalities involving the aircraft have occurred during training exercises rather than combat operations.

The investigation comes in the wake of a recent crash off the coast of Japan that claimed the lives of eight Air Force Special Operations Command service members. Following the tragedy, the US military made the unprecedented decision to ground all of its Osprey V-22 helicopters. A preliminary investigation into the crash suggested that a material failure with the aircraft, rather than crew error, was to blame. In response to the incident, Japan also grounded its fleet of 14 Ospreys.

This crash is just the latest in a series of incidents involving Osprey aircraft worldwide. In the past 20 months alone, there have been four crashes resulting in the deaths of 20 US service members. In August, three Marines were killed and eight others were injured when an Osprey crashed on an Australian island. The previous year, five Marines lost their lives in a desert crash in California. With a history of mechanical failures, reduced visibility, and faulty gearboxes, the Osprey program has long faced scrutiny.

The Osprey, which combines the capabilities of a helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft, became operational in 2007 after extensive testing. It has since become a crucial asset for the Marine Corps, Air Force Special Operations Command, and was in the process of being adopted by the Navy to replace its aging C-2 Greyhound propeller planes. However, the aircraft's safety record and the significant investment involved have raised questions about the rationale behind the program.

The House Committee on Oversight and Accountability has requested a wide range of documentation from the Pentagon, including safety records, maintenance records, training protocols, incident and accident reports, performance evaluations, and costs associated with the Osprey program. The committee aims to ensure transparency, accountability, and a thorough understanding of the steps the Department of Defense is taking to mitigate further mechanical risks.

In addition to the congressional investigation, Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, along with Representative Richard Neal, have also demanded answers from Defense Secretary Austin regarding the Osprey's safety record. The lawmakers, who represent Massachusetts, the home state of one of the service members killed in the Japan crash, are seeking clarification on the ongoing concerns surrounding the aircraft.

As the Osprey program remains grounded and the probe gets underway, the future of the tilt-rotor aircraft hangs in the balance. The investigation aims to shed light on the safety issues surrounding the Osprey and ensure that servicemembers are not put in harm's way due to unresolved mechanical problems.