Fatal Clutch Malfunction Claims Lives of 5 Marines in Osprey Incident, Investigation Reveals

A Marine Corps investigation has determined that a clutch problem in an MV-22 Osprey aircraft caused a crash in June 2022 that killed five Marines. The investigation found that a "hard clutch engagement" issue with the Ospreys led to severe damage to key components of the aircraft, resulting in a loss of control. The V-22 joint program office has since eliminated 99% of the risk of hard clutch engagements. The investigation concluded that the crash was a catastrophic and unpreventable mechanical failure. The Marine Corps has taken steps to improve the safety of Ospreys, including replacing the input quill assembly and implementing new design features.