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Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities
Precautionary landing near Melrose range led to Pentagon’s decision.
Military leaders have instituted a voluntary “operational pause” with their fleet of V-22 Ospreys after an aircraft assigned to Cannon Air Force Base experienced problems last month.
“While performing a local training mission, a CV-22 Osprey from Cannon … made a precautionary landing (on Nov. 20) near Melrose Air Force Range,” Maj. Jackie Pienkowski told The News on Monday.
Pienkowski, Cannon’s chief of public affairs, said there were four personnel on board, but no injuries occurred and there was no known damage to the aircraft because of the landing.
“While it’s too early in the investigation to determine the exact cause of the precautionary landing, the Joint Program Office has recommended an operational pause for all V-22s while analysis is conducted to determine if the current flight restrictions are adequate …,” Pienkowski said.
She said the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marines also fly variants of the V-22 and they “have implemented pauses as well.”
The Associated Press reported Monday that the Pentagon paused flights after weakened metal components may have played a role in the precautionary landing near Melrose.
AP also reported its recent investigation into the Osprey found that safety issues have increased in the past five years, with parts wearing out faster than expected and the design of the aircraft itself contributing to accidents.
The Osprey can operate as a helicopter or an airplane.
The U.S. Air Force began employing Ospreys in 2006, but the aircraft has a history of problems. AP reported that 64 military personnel have been killed and 93 injured in crashes over the past three decades.
The most recent tragedy involving an Osprey occurred in November 2023 off the coast of Japan when eight Air Force Special Operations Command service members were killed.
Pienkowski said military officials expect additional information later this week that will help determine how long the Osprey might be grounded.
“We remain confident in the aircrew and maintainers who operate the CV-22,” the major said. “(It) continues to be the only aircraft that can fulfill certain operational requirements due to its versatility, speed and vertical-lift capabilities not met by any other existing fixed- or rotary-wing platform.”
Pienkowski declined to provide the “exact number” of Ospreys assigned to Cannon, but “we can tell you that about 2/3 of the Air Force’s CV-22 Osprey aircraft are assigned here,” she wrote in a text message to The News.
