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Military helicopter Osprey conducts urgent landing in Japan

Militaristic Osprey aircraft from the U.S. performs unexpected landing in northern Japan on Thursday, marking another incident in a series of malfunctions and accidents associated with the debated tilt-rotor plane.

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Military helicopter, an Osprey from the U.S., crashes lands unexpectedly in Japan.
Military helicopter, an Osprey from the U.S., crashes lands unexpectedly in Japan.

Military helicopter Osprey conducts urgent landing in Japan

In an unexpected turn of events, a U.S. CV-22 Osprey aircraft made a precautionary emergency landing at Hanamaki Airport in Iwate Prefecture, Japan, on July 24, 2025. The aircraft, en route from Misawa Air Base to Yokota Air Base, landed due to a reported technical malfunction, as confirmed by an official at the airport to AFP.

The Osprey, capable of both vertical takeoff and landing like a helicopter, and forward flight like an airplane, landed without incident, and civilian airport operations continued normally. The aircraft was surrounded by a few uniformed US military personnel, as captured on television footage by NHK, the national broadcaster.

Japanese Self-Defense Forces personnel were dispatched to investigate the cause of the malfunction. This incident followed a similar emergency landing of another Osprey in Akita Prefecture six days earlier.

The Osprey has a history of safety concerns, including a fatal crash in southern Japan in November 2023 that claimed the lives of all eight crew members. Following this tragic incident, the US military grounded the aircraft worldwide. The aircraft involved in the Hanamaki incident has been part of several accidents and deadly crashes, including the one off southern Japan in 2023.

Despite the incident, no emergency medical assistance was requested following the landing, and the operation of the airport was not affected. Officials from US Forces Japan could not be reached for immediate comment.

[1] Source for the fatal crash in 2023 and worldwide grounding of the fleet. [2] Source for the grounding of the fleet following the fatal crash in 2023. [3] Source for the history of safety concerns related to the Osprey. [4] Source for the incident in Akita Prefecture.

  1. The unexpected emergency landing of the Osprey aircraft at Hanamaki Airport in 2025, as well as the previous incident in Akita Prefecture, has raised concerns about the safety of the Osprey within the aviation industry and broader transportation sector.
  2. Financial implications for the US military and the aviation industry may arise due to the recurring technical issues and emergency landings of the Osprey aircraft, previously resulting in worldwide grounding and potential legal claims.

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