WASHINGTON, D.C. (WWLP)--Massachusetts' federal lawmakers wrote a letter to the Department of Defense on Monday requesting the grounding of the V-22 Osprey aircraft. Congressman Richard Neal along with Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey have requested the Department of Defense ground the full fleet of Bell Boeing V-22 Ospreys until safety issues are resolved. The Osprey’s safety issues spiked over five years and caused deaths. Pilots still want to fly it A V-22 Osprey is an aircraft that takes off like a helicopter but when in the air, can fly more like a plane. In the past decade alone, there have been 7 deadly Osprey crashes with the most recent happening November of 2023, killing a Pittsfield native when the aircraft crashed in a training mission in Japan. Another crash last year resulted in the death of a Marine from Leominster, Massachusetts. Congressman Richard Neal told 22News that legislators want to seek clarity. "There have been a number of accidents with the Osprey and I think what we want to know is what steps have been taken to ensure the safety of our military and simultaneously if there is a technical issue that needs to be repaired, then the military and the contractors have to get after it," Neal explained. The letter details how the two recent safety reports from the Air Force's investigation into the November 2023 crash was the result of "a long list of institutional and manufacturing issues." Congressman Neal said when men and women sign up for the military, they understand there can be threats from foreign countries and organizations, but there shouldn't be a threat or concern from our own equipment. Just last month, an Osprey hit the ground in a flight accident, leading Japan to ground all aircrafts to highlight the safety issues. Read the letter sent to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin here: v-22_oversight_letter_122223Download