Garamendi Releases Statement on Grounding the V-22 Osprey Fleet

WASHINGTON, DC— Representative John Garamendi (D-CA08), the top Democrat on the Readiness Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, issued the following statement in response to the announcement that the Naval Air Systems Command has issued a red stripe memorandum grounding the V-22 Osprey fleet:

“It is our duty to ensure that the Department of Defense is taking every necessary step to prevent all avoidable training incidents. In 2021, as Chairman of the Readiness Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee, I ensured that the FY21 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) established the Joint Safety Council to provide independent oversight and investigation of complex accident investigations, ensuring that military departments maintain a culture of safety. Instilling a culture of safety remains a top priority in my work on the Armed Services Committee.

“Given the many questions surrounding the crash of a V-22 off the coast of Japan on November 29, 2023, that led to the tragic death of the 8 crew members aboard, and an earlier V-22 crash in Australia on August 27, 2023, that killed 3 Marines, I expect that the safety review board will fully investigate the all too frequent accidents involving the V-22. I am asking for a Government Accountability Office (GAO) study to investigate the safety of the aircraft.

“I commend today’s decision by the Naval Air Systems Command to ground these aircraft until more is known about what caused the accident, how to mitigate risk, and prevent future loss of life.

“Service members are our most precious and important resource, and their safety must be paramount. As we wait for more answers, my thoughts and prayers remain with the families of the fallen.”

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