(19 Nov 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
++MUSIC CLEARED FOR EDITORIAL USE++
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cannon Air Force Base – 9 October 2024
1. Osprey aircraft approaching mid-flight
2. Osprey on tarmac
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Dover Air Force Base – 25 March 2022
3. STILL close of a dignified transfer
4. STILL Wide of a dignified transfer
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cannon Air Force Base – 9 October 2024
5. Crew member sits at the back of aircraft
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cannon Air Force Base – 9 October 2024
6. STILL of crew members walking on tarmac with Osprey in the background
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cannon Air Force Base – 9 October 2024
7. Osprey aircraft mid-flight
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Glasgow, Scotland – 23 October 2024
++PARTIALLY COVERED++
8. SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Brown, Rotorcraft Specialist, Sophrodyne Aerospace:
“The Osprey was one of the first of a generation of extremely advanced, extremely high-performance rotorcraft that could achieve the kind of ambitions that the Marines wanted. Why are Ospreys crashing now? It’s because these aircraft are getting old and problems are starting to emerge that to a certain extent were baked in when the aircraft was designed but are inherent issues with the design that are emerging as time goes on.”
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Cannon Air Force Base – 9 October 2024
9. Interior of Osprey cockpit
10. Osprey tiltrotor
11. Crew member approaches back of aircraft
12. Crew member fires gun off of back of aircraft
13. Osprey tiltrotor in flight
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Captain Christian Eells, U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command:
“Whenever you lose somebody, we’ll try to get everyone together and create something so you always remember them, it’s in a place we see every day.”
15. Crew member sits at the back of aircraft
16. Zoom out from back of aircraft
++PARTIALLY COVERED++
17. SOUNDBITE (English) Maj. Shelby Olivera, Maintenance Squadron Commander:
“This platform is, you know, not routine, right? This is a complex platform because we are special operations, and I would say we’re ready.”
STORYLINE:
AFTER MONTHS OF GROUNDING FOLLOWING A DEADLY CRASH IN JAPAN, THE V-22 OSPREY IS BACK IN THE AIR, BUT THERE ARE STILL QUESTIONS AS TO WHETHER OR NOT IT SHOULD BE.
SINCE THE MILITARY FIRST STARTED FLYING THE V-22, THERE HAVE BEEN AT LEAST 21 MAJOR OSPREY ACCIDENTS THAT HAVE KILLED A TOTAL OF 64 PERSONNEL AND INJURED 93.
A STRING OF FOUR FATAL CRASHES OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS BROUGHT THE OSPREY THE CLOSEST IT'S COME TO BEING SHUT DOWN BY CONGRESS.
AN AP INVESTIGATION FOUND THAT OSPREY SAFETY ISSUES HAVE INCREASED IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS AND THAT THE DESIGN OF THE AIRCRAFT ITSELF IS CONTRIBUTING TO A MAJORITY OF THE ACCIDENTS.
SOUNDBITE (English) Dr. Richard Brown, Rotorcraft Specialist Sophrodyne Aerospace:
“The Osprey was one of the first of a generation of extremely advanced, extremely high-performance rotorcraft that could achieve the kind of ambitions that the Marines wanted. Why are Ospreys crashing now? It’s because these aircraft are getting old and problems are starting to emerge that to a certain extent were baked in when the aircraft was designed but are inherent issues with the design that are emerging as time goes on.”
BUT THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THE OSPREY IN THE FLEET AND THE PILOTS WHO RISK THEIR LIVES AND SAY IT NEEDS TO KEEP FLYING.
BECAUSE IT CAN FLY LONG DISTANCES FAST LIKE AN AIRPLANE AND LAND ON TARGET LIKE A HELICOPTER. IN THE LAST THREE YEARS ALONE, OSPREYS HAVE BEEN TASKED TO RESCUE CIVILIANS IN NIGER, AND THEY WERE ON STANDBY IN POLAND DURING PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN'S SURPRISE VISIT TO UKRAINE.
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