Japan has no plans to seek a suspension of Osprey flights despite restrictions in US
Japan’s defense chief says Japanese and American V-22 Ospreys are being safely operated in the country
TOKYO (AP) — Japan's defense chief said Friday that Japanese and American V-22 Ospreys are being safely operated in his country, and that he has no plans to request a flight suspension despite restrictions in the U.S. where ongoing safety and performance assessments will continue until next year.
Defense Minister Minoru Kihara said that Japanese and U.S. military officials have closely communicated over technical issues involving the safety of Ospreys following a fatal November crash off Japan's southern coast.
“Japanese and U.S. Ospreys have been operated safely and I believe there is no safety issue involved," Kihara said. “We have no intention to seek a suspension of the operation.”
Aircraft that had completed necessary maintenance, in addition to further training of pilots, have returned to flight service, and they are operated with upgraded safety checks, maintenance, flight plans, emergency measures and other steps, he said.
