Biden entourage evacuated after White House Osprey ‘catches fire’
Joe Biden’s entourage was dramatically evacuated from the White House Osprey after it caught fire, according to a witness.
The plane was scheduled to carry government workers and officials from a Thanksgiving event in New York on Monday before it was grounded for safety reasons.
A journalist traveling with the president reported seeing a fire under the right engine shortly before staff were alerted to the problem.
Employees were removed from the aircraft, which is part of the Marine Corps HMX-1 presidential helicopter fleet, before being transferred to a second Osprey.
They were heading out of Staten Island after joining outgoing President Biden, 82, at a “Friendsgiving” event with members of the U.S. Coast Guard.
The debacle caused a slight delay to Biden’s return to Washington on Monday evening, officials said.
“The issue occurred during startup and was immediately addressed according to established procedures,” John Caldwell, deputy director of communications for the U.S. Marine Corps, told DailyMail.com on Monday around 5 p.m.
“No one was in danger and the squadron executed the transportation backup plan, which resulted in a minor travel delay.
“The aircraft is still on board at Miller Field, Staten Island. The squadron, HMX-1, today dispatched another MV-22 from Quantico with parts and maintenance personnel to repair and recover the aircraft.”
Joe Biden’s entourage dramatically rescued after White House Osprey caught fire mid-flight, witness says
The plane was carrying government workers and officials to a Thanksgiving event (pictured) with the president in New York on Monday before being grounded due to safety concerns
The same day, lawmakers sent a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin asking for the Army’s entire fleet of V-22 Ospreys to be grounded again due to a litany of serious safety concerns.
The letter was prompted by an Associated Press investigation into the plane’s accident history, which revealed troubling safety and design flaws.
In the letter sent to Austin on Monday, Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, and Representative Richard Neal, all Democrats from Massachusetts, said that “given current concerns about the safety of the V-22, the aircraft should be grounded kept’
They added that it “should not be redeployed until the significant deficiencies of the platform are fully addressed.”
Approximately 46 people have died in Osprey accidents over the past thirty years.
The entire fleet was grounded for three months this year after a deadly crash in Japan in November 2023 that killed eight service members, including one from Massachusetts.
Ospreys, which are operated by the Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps and used in the presidential fleet, have now returned to flying operations, with some restrictions.
Osprey pilots told the AP that despite safety concerns, they do not want to see the plane grounded because of its unique capabilities.
Program officials have said they are working on solutions to improve the safety and reliability of the V-22.
Pictured: A search team scouring the scene after an Osprey crash in Japan that killed eight service members, including one from Massachusetts, in November 2023
Monday’s incident wasn’t it The first time White House staff or reporters had to be removed from an Osprey during a trip due to security concerns.
In November 2023, an Osprey reporters and White House staff returned to the ground shortly after takeoff after four loud “bangs” were heard and smoke was seen.
The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the letter.
The lawmakers also cited the AP’s reporting that pilots must press the V-22’s “interim power” function to land safely – but this is not recommended because it can wear out parts.
Interim forces played a role in the most recent accident in October, when a Japanese Self-Defense Forces Osprey violently overturned and hit the ground on takeoff.
An investigation found that the pilots were to blame for not turning on the intermediate power during takeoff.
“The reality for pilots is that they must push the aircraft to its limits to stay safe,” the lawmakers wrote.