Military launches investigation after deadly chopper crash in Japan
Politics
Congress launched an independent investigation into the Osprey program after the deadly crash in Japan involving 16 members of Navy SEAL Team Six.
The US House of Representatives launched an independent investigation into the Osprey program after the crashed military helicopter carrying 16 members of Navy SEAL Team Six in Yakushima, Japan.
The incident saw 15 bodies being returned home to the United States, leaving only one person missing. This accident occurred on June 3rd, 2018 when five military personnel, including Navy Captain Chase Vessey Jr., were killed while operating the CH-47F helicopter off the coast of Okinawa, Japan.
The deaths prompted immediate condemnations from all sides, with many members of Congress questioning whether the US government should have allowed a certain type of weapon to be used in combat situations in such a high number and that more safeguards need to be put in place to prevent something like this happening again.
Despite the deaths, it remains unclear why the crash happened as an investigation by the Pentagon's inspector general found there was no evidence to suggest the US military had anything to do with the design or operation of the aircraft. The report concluded the accident could have been caused by bad weather conditions.
Congress, however, has decided to conduct its own investigation regarding the Osprey's design and service history.
The report is titled 'Military Use of the Osprey Helicopters', and begins today. It will examine various aspects including how the helicopters are maintained, who orders them, and whether they should be used for certain missions. It also examines how the training of pilots is carried out. The investigation is led by Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD), who stated, "Our investigation is not about blaming, it is about finding the truth" and will cover 15 chapters, including whether the US government should have ordered it, its safety features, the pilot's training, and what went wrong on June 3rd, 2018.
The report is seen as critical to the American public and the military community because the incident highlighted the need to improve safety procedures within the US Army, particularly those related to the CH-47F Osprey aircraft and the Navy SEALS who use it.
