Article excerpt:
Over the 33-year history of the V-22, the Osprey has experienced at least 16 “hull loss” (unrepairable) accidents that have resulted in a total of 63 fatalities, according to the data we found: During testing from 1991 to 2006, there were 4 crashes resulting in 30 fatalities. Since becoming operational in 2007, the V-22 has suffered 12 crashes, including two in combat zones, and several other accidents and incidents that resulted in a total of 33 fatalities, based on the information we can find. Crucially, as far as we can tell, none of these crashes were the direct result of enemy fire. This record of fatal crashes certainly doesn’t sound good, and the deaths of any service members are indeed tragic. Of particular concern is the apparent acceleration of deadly incidents over the recent couple of years, with 4 fatal Osprey crashes occurring since March 2022 alone.
But the Osprey is statistically among the safer military aircraft if you look at the numbers. While 16 crashes and 63 fatalities in 33 years might sound like a lot, crashes are an unfortunate fact of life in military aviation, particularly when you have to fly low, fast, and often in the dark. For example, the excellent F-15 Eagle has experienced around 125 aircraft losses in mishaps, though none in air-to-air combat.
If you look at the death rate per 100,000 flight hours, the Osprey is not even close to the “most lethal” to fly. Alex Hollings of Sandboxx media points out that the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter has resulted in far more deaths (more than 180 military and civilian deaths in non-combat-related crashes in its first 33 years of service), and is still considered “the safest helicopter the US military has ever flown.”
Hollings references General Jorge Martinez, who says the V-22 has a lower crash death rate per 100,000 flight hours than the Harrier, the F/A-18 Super Hornet, the F-35B, or the Sikorsky CH-53E Super Stallion.
It also depends on how you look at the numbers. For example, the Osprey can carry up to 32 people at once, so theoretically an F/A-18 Super Hornet carrying 2 people could have a fatal crash incident rate of 8 or 10 times that of the Osprey, but the V-22 would still show a higher death rate from fewer crashes.
