Washington (February 7, 2025) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee, and Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), member of the Armed Services Committee, today urged National Football League (NFL) Commissioner Roger Goodell, to cancel the planned V-22 Osprey flyover at Sunday’s Super Bowl.
The V-22 has been involved in 21 major accidents since 1992, resulting in 64 deaths. In March 2022, Marine Corps Captain Ross A. Reynolds of Leominster, Massachusetts was piloting a V-22 when it crashed near Norway, killing Captain Reynolds and three other Marines onboard. The most recent crash, off the coast of Japan in November 2023, killed eight service members, including Staff Sergeant Jacob Galliher – a young father from Pittsfield, Massachusetts. Japan and the United States grounded the Osprey after this incident, but flights have since been resumed. As recently as December 2024, an Osprey was forced to land due to an engine failure.
In the letter, the lawmakers write, “On the 250th anniversary of the Marine Corps, we appreciate the NFL’s effort to honor servicemembers. But we believe that it is inappropriate to feature the Osprey in this way and that the aircraft should not be included in the flyover.”
The lawmakers continued, “The families of these brave servicemembers are still grieving the loss of their loved ones. They should not have to be reminded of their loss while watching the Super Bowl. Out of respect for the military families and in deference to the safety concerns about the aircraft, we strongly urge you to cancel the planned V-22 Osprey Super Bowl flyover this Sunday.”
In November 2024, the Senators wrote to the Pentagon that the increase in V-22 incidents over the last five years raises serious safety concerns regarding the aircraft, and that it should be grounded until those concerns are resolved.
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