Osprey ferrying White House staff in New York grounded due to safety issue, witness reports flames

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.