---
title: "Air Force Special Operations Command grounds Osprey fleet"
description: "Air Force Special Operations Command said it was grounding its fleet of CV-22 Ospreys in the wake of a crash that killed eight crew members."
date: "2023-12-06"
modified: "2023-12-06"
authors:
  - name: "Matt White"
    job_title: "Senior Editor"
    link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/matt-white/"
url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/air-force-special-operations-command-grounds-osprey-fleet/"
categories:
  - "Air Force"
  - "Marine Corps"
  - "Military Branches"
  - "News"
tags:
  - "Crash"
---

# Air Force Special Operations Command grounds Osprey fleet

![osprey grounded AFSOC](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/29/CV-22-2-scaled.jpeg>)
*A CV-22 Osprey assigned to Air Force Special Operations Command prepares to land during an aerial demonstration at Wittman Regional Airport, Wis., July 30, 2021. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Miranda Mahoney.*

Air Force Special Operations Command said it was grounding its fleet of CV-22 Ospreys in the wake of a crash that killed eight crew members Nov. 29.

The bodies of six of the crew have been recovered from the crash off the coast of Japan. The other two aboard are presumed dead.

The crash was the third fatal mishap for the twin-rotor, vertical takeoff aircraft in just over a year, including two involving Marine Corps Ospreys.

"Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, AFSOC Commander, directed an operational standdown of the Air Force CV-22 fleet December 6, 2023 to mitigate risk while the investigation continues on the November 29, 2023 CV-22 mishap near Yakushima, Japan," said a statement released by the Air Force. "Preliminary investigation information indicates a potential materiel failure caused the mishap, but the underlying cause of the failure is unknown at this time."

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## Author
Matt White is a senior editor at Task & Purpose*.* He writes on news, people and events that affect the lives of those in the Army, Air Force and Space Force, Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard. He also helps direct and edit coverage across Task & Purpose’s newsroom. He has written widely on military aviation and mishaps, service members with unique stories, and special operations including [combat search and rescue](<https://taskandpurpose.com/news/air-force-pararescue-astronauts-boat-nasa-ocean/>). Got a story to tell? You can reach Matt at [matthew.white@taskandpurpose.com](<mailto:matthew.white@taskandpurpose.com>)

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