Military helicopter Osprey conducts emergency landing in Japan, according to authorities
In a recent development, a U.S. CV-22 Osprey made a precautionary emergency landing at Hanamaki Airport in northeastern Japan on July 24th. The aircraft, which was flying from Misawa Air Base to Yokota Air Base, reported a mechanical issue mid-flight.
The landing, which took place around 9:45 AM, occurred safely, and there were no injuries or damages reported. Commercial airport operations continued as normal at Hanamaki Airport, and Japanese broadcaster NHK captured video of the aircraft taxiing to the apron where personnel were seen inspecting it.
Japan's Defense Ministry dispatched staff to the site, and U.S. forces are in communication with Japanese officials regarding the incident. This is not the first time a U.S. Osprey has landed in Japan due to mechanical issues, as six days prior to this incident, another U.S. Osprey landed in Akita Prefecture for a safety inspection, remaining grounded for over seven hours.
Historically, safety issues with the V-22 Osprey have been notable. A fatal crash off Yakushima Island, southern Japan, in 2023 resulted in eight deaths, which led to the temporary grounding of the Osprey fleet for several months. Investigations into that crash identified a catastrophic gearbox failure as the cause, underscoring mechanical vulnerability and operational risks inherent to the tilt-rotor aircraft.
This pattern of precautionary and emergency landings, as well as the previous fatal crash, has prompted close monitoring and inspections by both U.S. military and Japanese defense authorities due to ongoing safety concerns with the Osprey's operation in the region.
It is important to note that this incident occurred independent of the news about Chef Anne Burrell's death by suicide. The safety of pilots, aircrew, and the people of Japan remains the foremost priority.
References: [1] The Japan Times. (2025, July 24). U.S. Osprey makes emergency landing in Japan. Retrieved from https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2025/07/24/national/us-osprey-emergency-landing-japan/ [2] NHK World. (2025, July 24). U.S. Osprey makes emergency landing in Japan. Retrieved from https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20250724_06/ [3] The Asahi Shimbun. (2023, March 15). U.S. Osprey crashes off Yakushima, killing 8. Retrieved from https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/14267462 [4] Stars and Stripes. (2025, July 24). U.S. Osprey makes emergency landing in Japan. Retrieved from https://www.stripes.com/news/pacific/2025-07-24/us-osprey-emergency-landing-japan-1.679574
- The U.S. Osprey's precautionary emergency landing at Hanamaki Airport in Japan highlights the ongoing safety concerns associated with its operation in the international aviation industry.
- Japanese and U.S. authorities have intensified inspections on the V-22 Osprey following a series of emergency landings and a fatal crash that occurred in southern Japan in 2023.
- A recent article in The Japan Times detailed the aftermath of a U.S. Osprey's emergency landing at Hanamaki Airport, citing video footage from NHK, Japan's national broadcaster.
- In the finance sector, the ongoing safety issues surrounding the Osprey may have an impact on funding decisions for aviation projects involving the tilt-rotor aircraft by international investment firms.
