An Osprey flying as part of the presidential squadron used to ferry White House staff and government officials from an event in New York Monday 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 U.S. Coast Guard in Staten Island. Lawmakers earlier had sent a letter to Defense 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 issues identified by The Associated Press.
