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, 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 in California, and a Marine Corps investigation determined that a mechanical failure was the cause, with no error on the part of the pilots and aircrew. The families of the deceased Marines are seeking justice for their loved ones by holding the companies accountable for negligence, misrepresentation, and failure to warn of known defects in the aircraft.
The lawsuit focuses on a specific mechanical failure in the Osprey involving the dual hard clutch engagement, which led to a system failure resulting in the tragic crash. The families argue that the defendants’ defective products, breaches of contracts, and wrongful actions caused the accident and the deaths of the Marines. Boeing, Bell Textron, and Rolls Royce have not yet responded to requests for comment on the lawsuit. This legal action comes amidst ongoing scrutiny of Boeing’s quality control issues, as the company is expected to present a plan to address these concerns following other incidents involving its aircraft.
This lawsuit follows a series of deadly crashes involving Osprey aircraft, including one off the coast of Japan that resulted in the deaths of eight US Special Operations airmen. The grounding of the entire fleet of V-22 Ospreys was lifted in March after an investigation identified a material failure as the cause of the crash. The families of the Marines killed in the California crash are seeking answers and accountability to ensure that such incidents do not happen again. The lawsuit aims to uncover the reasons for the crash and address any common issues that may have contributed to this and other Osprey crashes.
The families involved in the lawsuit are represented by attorney Tim Loranger, who stated that the goal is to determine why the aircraft crashed and what has been done to prevent future incidents. The families want to ensure that when military members are sent on missions, their safety is not compromised by mechanical failures or other issues with the aircraft. The recent crashes involving Osprey aircraft have raised concerns about the safety of these vehicles and the need for thorough investigations to prevent similar tragedies in the future. Loranger emphasized the importance of holding the companies accountable for their role in the accidents and ensuring that necessary steps are taken to prevent such incidents from happening again.
