Updated: 6:18 PM EST Feb 7, 2021 The New England Patriots aren t playing in the 2021 Super Bowl, but one of their team planes has made the trip to Tampa, Florida.Seventy-six vaccinated health care workers from all six New England states flew from Boston to Tampa aboard one of the Patriots AirKraft planes.The plane took off from Logan International Airport shortly after 9:40 a.m. Sunday and landed in Tampa before 1:30 p.m. The plane ride was awesome, said Nick Duncan, director of emergency management at Tufts Medical Center, after arriving in Tampa. They kept us fed and warm on the way down here. We re so excited. Everyone is so pumped to be at the Super Bowl, said Jessica Tellier, a registered nurse at Emerson Hospital. It s just been an amazing trip so far. Approximately 7,500 health care workers from across the country will be in attendance as honorary guests of the NFL Sunday for the big game between the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Kansas City Chiefs. They ll b
As guests of the Kraft family, 76 healthcare heroes are Bowl bound.
Earlier this week, Robert Kraft called to personally invite some of these heroes and thank them for their work fighting COVID-19. New England Patriots (@Patriots) February 2, 2021
The red, white and blue Patriot plane will take the health care workers down and back. Nick Duncan, director of emergency medical management at Tufts Medical Center, will be on board, too. Desperately needed supplies have arrived after the Patriots plane traveled to China to retrieve 1.7 million N95 masks.
“It is unique, right? They delivered the PPE that we were all talking about back in March and now here we are taking it to the Super Bowl as kind of a joyous celebration,” Duncan said.