The families of four US Marines who were killed in a 2022 crash of an Osprey aircraft have filed a lawsuit against Boeing, Bell Textron Inc., and Rolls Royce, alleging that the companies failed to address known issues with the aircraft that led to the crash. The crash occurred during a training mission at Marine Corps Air Station Camp Pendleton, resulting in the deaths of five Marines. A Marine Corps investigation determined that the accident was caused by a mechanical failure and that there was no error on the part of the pilots or aircrew.
The lawsuit, filed by the families of the deceased Marines, accuses the companies of negligence, negligent misrepresentation, fraudulent misrepresentation, and failure to warn. The families’ lawyer stated that the lawsuit alleges that the aircraft in question had a known defect, but insufficient steps were taken to correct it. The mechanical failure in June 2023 involved the dual hard clutch engagement, which led to a Single Engine/IDS failure and ultimately resulted in an unrecoverable departure from controlled flight, leading to the tragic crash.
Boeing, Bell Textron, and Rolls Royce have not yet responded to requests for comment from CNN. The filing of the lawsuit comes amidst scrutiny of Boeing, which is expected to present a plan to address quality issues on its assembly line following an incident involving a Boeing 737 Max aircraft earlier in the year. The lawsuit also follows another deadly V-22 Osprey crash off the coast of Japan, which led to the deaths of eight US Special Operations airmen. The entire fleet of V-22 Ospreys was grounded as a result of the crash, with the grounding guidance being lifted in March after an investigation identified a materiel failure responsible for the incident.
Col. Brian Taylor, the program manager of the Naval Air Systems Command V-22 joint program office, described the Japan crash as resulting from an unprecedented component failure, without specifying the specific component that failed. The incident near Japan was the most recent in a series of Osprey incidents, including a crash in Australia that killed three US Marines in 2023 and a crash during a NATO exercise that resulted in the deaths of four US service members in 2022. The families involved in the lawsuit seek to uncover the reasons behind the crashes, determine if there is a common thread among them, and ensure that measures are taken to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The families’ lawyer emphasized the importance of ensuring the safety of military personnel when they are deployed for missions, highlighting the significance of addressing any potential issues with the aircraft to prevent future accidents. The families involved in the lawsuit seek answers regarding why the aircraft crashed and what measures have been taken to prevent similar incidents. The lawsuit aims to hold the companies accountable for their alleged negligence and failure to address known defects with the Osprey aircraft, ultimately seeking justice for the deceased Marines and their families.
