Families of four U.S. Marines tragically killed in a June 2022 V-22 Osprey crash in California have commenced legal action, accusing Bell Textron, Boeing, and Rolls-Royce—the aircraft’s manufacturers—of negligence. This lawsuit reflects a pivotal moment in the aircraft’s troubled operational history, highlighting ongoing safety concerns and seeking justice for the lost service members.
The plaintiffs allege that the manufacturers failed to make “truthful statements to the government and to service members about the design, operation, and safety of V-22 Osprey aircraft.” The case primarily targets alleged defects in the Osprey’s rotor gearbox clutch and Interconnect Drive System (ICDS). Specifically, the complaint centers around a dual “hard clutch engagement” and potential problems with the ICDS, which is crucial for transferring power between the rotors should an engine fail.
Tim Loranger, representing the families, has stated, “For years Bell-Boeing and others have asserted that this aircraft and all of its systems are safe, yet the facts keep telling a different story.” The heartrending pleas of the families crystallize the stakes at play. Brett Strickland, one of the plaintiffs, articulates the broader implications of the lawsuit: “We don’t want other families to get a knock on the door in the middle of the night.”
The Osprey’s safety record has faced scrutiny after 20 service members perished in four fatal crashes from March 2022 to November 2023. The series of incidents prompted a temporary grounding of the approximately 400-strong Osprey fleet used across the Navy, the Marines, and the Air Force.
The recent legal challenge brings into sharp relief the enduring concerns over the Osprey’s clutch issue, with a noted increase in “hard clutch engagements” post the California incident. Despite the military’s belief that they have addressed the recurrent clutch problem allegedly responsible for the crash, the root causes for the Osprey’s issues remain undetermined. The plaintiffs argue that these failures signify a systematic risk, potentially indicative of an enduring and dangerous flaw in the aircraft.
The pursuit of legal accountability arrives amidst ongoing inquiries into two more recent Osprey crashes—one off the coast of Australia and another involving an Air Force Special Operations Command Osprey off Japan, which respectively claimed the lives of three Marines and eight airmen. These cases are still under investigation, with no definitive causes disclosed to the public.
The litany of tragedies underpinning the lawsuit underscores a narrative of systemic failure and sorrow. Amber Sax, who lost her husband Capt. John Sax in the California crash, poignantly expressed the bereaved’s sentiment: “Our military members deserve equipment and aircraft free of failures, especially failures that can cause the loss of their lives.”
Relevant articles:
– Families of Marines killed in 2022 Osprey crash sue manufacturers, Marine Times, 05/27/2024
– Families of Marines who died in an Osprey crash sue Bell Textron, Boeing and Rolls-Royce, makers of the aircraft, NBC News, 05/24/2024
– Families of Marines killed in 2022 Osprey helicopter crash sue manufacturers, AOL, 05/27/2024
– Families of Camp Pendleton Marines killed in Osprey crash sue manufacturers, KPBS, 05/25/2024
– Families of Marines killed in 2022 Osprey crash sue aircraft manufacturers Boeing, Bell, Rolls Royce, KCRA Sacramento, 05/24/2024
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