A US military commander says Osprey tilt-rotor transport aircraft will not likely be permitted to resume a full range of operations until at least the middle of next year.
The US military grounded its Osprey aircraft following a fatal crash off the southwestern Japanese prefecture of Kagoshima in November last year.
Vice Admiral Carl Chebi, head of US Naval Air Systems Command expressed the view at a House hearing on Wednesday.
Chebi told lawmakers that the transporter was allowed to return to restricted flight operations in March.
Chebi then said he will not certify the transport to “return to unrestricted flight operations until I am satisfied that we have sufficiently addressed the issues that may affect the safety of the aircraft.” He added he expects that this will not occur before the middle of 2025.
The commander also said a comprehensive review of the Osprey program is ongoing and he expects the full review will take another six to nine months.
He said a total of 64 service members had been killed in accidents involving Ospreys and 93 injured.