The U.S. military has decided to resume flying the Osprey transport plane, according to the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command on Friday.

The command said in a press release that it is "issuing a flight clearance" for the tilt-rotor aircraft, which had been grounded after a deadly crash off a southwestern Japanese island last November, saying the decision was based on "a meticulous and data-driven approach prioritizing the safety of our aircrews."

Japan and the United States are coordinating the exact schedule for the resumption of flights by Ospreys deployed in Japan, according to the Japanese Defense Ministry.

The entire fleet was grounded last December after a CV-22B Osprey crashed off Yakushima island, killing eight Air Force Special Operations Command service members.