WASHINGTON (AP) — Japan has grounded its fleet of V-22 Osprey aircraft again after an incident last Sunday where one of the hybrid helicopter-aircraft tilted unexpectedly and hit the ground while trying to take off.
The V-22 was taking part in the joint U.S. military exercise Keen Sword and carrying 16 passengers, including three U.S. service members. During takeoff it “became unstable as it swayed from side to side, and the left wing, the lower part of the aircraft came into contact with the ground and part of the aircraft was damaged, so the flight was aborted," Japan's Ground Self Defense Forces said in a statement.
It was the first major incident involving Japan's V-22 fleet since a U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command Osprey crash last November off the coast of Japan killed eight service members and led to a monthslong grounding of the entire fleet for both Japan and the U.S.
The aircraft resumed flight operations earlier this year, but the Osprey’s use remains controversial particularly in Okinawa, where residents have questioned its safety record.
The Osprey in last Sunday's incident was able to land and no one was injured, however Japan will keep its fleet of more than a dozen V-22s grounded while it investigates the incident, Defense Minister Gen Nakatani told reporters last week.
“We believe there is no safety problem with Ospreys, although ensuring flight safety is a prerequisite for aircraft operations,” Nakatani said.
The Pentagon's V-22 joint program office is supporting Japan's investigation into the incident, spokesman Neil Lobeda said Saturday.
The V-22 was operating on the Japanese island of Yonaguni during the joint exercise Keen Sword. Yonaguni is only 100 kilometers (62 miles) east of Taiwan.
Yamaguchi reported from Tokyo
FILE - U.S. MV-22 Osprey transport aircraft are parked at the U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma in Ginowan, south of Okinawa, southern Japan, Sept. 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Hiro Komae, File)
Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder speaks during a press briefing at the Pentagon on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2024 in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)
PARSONS, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 10, 2026--
Deep Fission, Inc. (“Deep Fission” or the “Company”), an advanced nuclear energy company developing small modular pressurized water reactors installed one mile underground, today announced it has begun drilling its first data acquisition well in Parsons, Kansas.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260310839423/en/
The well will be drilled to a depth of approximately 6,000 feet and will have a diameter of roughly eight inches. It is the first of three planned wells and represents the initial phase of site characterization and engineering validation.
Deep Fission has also completed construction of the drilling pad at the Parsons site, preparing the location for safe and efficient drilling operations. Pad completion marks another key infrastructure milestone as the Company advances from planning and engineering into active field development.
“Drilling our first borehole is a major step forward for Deep Fission,” said Liz Muller, CEO and Co-Founder of Deep Fission. “It represents the shift from concept to construction and begins the process of demonstrating a fundamentally new approach to nuclear energy deployment.”
The data acquisition well will enable the Company to gather critical geological, hydrological, and thermal data to inform final engineering design, safety analysis, and regulatory planning. The drilling campaign and subsequent testing program will support a series of technical evaluations aimed at accelerating the Company’s pathway to commercial deployment.
Deep Fission’s proprietary approach integrates proven pressurized water reactor (PWR) technology with advanced drilling methods developed in the oil and gas industry and geothermal heat-transfer techniques. Each Gravity Reactor is designed to be installed deep underground in a sealed borehole, leveraging stable bedrock for natural shielding and containment.
The three-well drilling program is expected to provide the subsurface data necessary to advance reactor demonstration and future commercialization efforts.
Deep Fission is participating in the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Reactor Pilot Program. Authorized under Executive Order 14301, the Program marks a historic shift in federal policy, enabling reactor testing and deployment on sites outside of national laboratories. This initiative is a cornerstone of the DOE’s commitment to reform and streamline processes that will unlock innovation and speed up the development of next-generation nuclear technologies.
About Deep Fission
Deep Fission is revolutionizing the energy landscape with innovative technology that places a small modular pressurized water reactor in a borehole one mile underground. Founded and led by a team of seasoned scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs, the company is committed to delivering safe, reliable, and affordable low-carbon power at scale. Deep Fission was selected for the Department of Energy’s Reactor Pilot Program and is building its first reactor in Parsons Kansas. Deep Fission was founded in 2023 by father-daughter team Liz and Rich Muller. Learn more at deepfission.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the U.S. federal securities laws, including, among other things, statements regarding Deep Fission’s development plans, anticipated project timelines, potential commercial opportunities, collaboration activities, and other future matters. These statements are based on current expectations and involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied. Important factors that may affect actual results are described under “Risk Factors” and “Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in Deep Fission’s registration statement on Form S-1 filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (as amended or supplemented), and in other filings Deep Fission makes with the SEC. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Deep Fission undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise, except as required by law.
The drill rig at the Deep Fission site in Parsons, Kansas.
