NEW YORK (AP) – An Osprey being used to ferry White House staff and government officials from an event in New York, United States (US) was grounded due to a safety concern, with one witness reporting flames under the right engine.
The staff and officials were removed from the aircraft, part of the Marine Corps HMX-1 presidential helicopter fleet, and transferred to a second Osprey to continue their trip accompanying President Joe Biden at a ‘Friendsgiving’ event with members of the US Coast Guard in Staten Island.
The issue caused only a minor delay for Biden’s return to Washington on Monday evening.
The incident occurred the same day lawmakers sent a letter to Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin asking him to re-ground the military’s entire fleet of V-22 Ospreys until solutions can be put in place to address safety and design issues identified by The Associated Press in its recent in-depth investigation of the aircraft’s accident record.
The Marine Corps did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the New York incident. A journalist travelling with the president reported seeing a fire under the right engine shortly before staff were notified the Osprey would be grounded.
