Wreckage found in hunt for F-15 fighter plane crashed into North Sea but pilot still missing
THE WRECKAGE of the US F-15 fighter plane that crashed into the North Sea has been found – but the pilot is still missing. The F-15C Eagle crashed into the East Yorkshire coast at about 9.40am today while reportedly taking part in a training exercise. In a statement this afternoon, US Air Force said the […]
THE WRECKAGE of the US F-15 fighter plane that crashed into the North Sea has been found – but the pilot is still missing.
The F-15C Eagle crashed into the East Yorkshire coast at about 9.40am today while reportedly taking part in a training exercise.
In a statement this afternoon, US Air Force said the RNLI is still searching for the plane’s pilot.
They said: “Search efforts by Her Majesty’s Coastguard have located wreckage from the downed F-15C Eagle and recovery efforts are underway.
“The pilot is still missing, and search and rescue efforts continue.”
The east Yorkshire and Bridlington coastguard confirmed earlier that a major operation is underway at the crash site, believed to be 74 nautical miles off the East Yorkshire coast.
Col. Will Marshall said earlier: “We are extremely grateful for the timely response from UK counterparts in support of these recovery efforts and remain hopeful the Liberty wing airman will be located and recovered.”
Just this morning, RAF Lakenheath had shared photographs of three fighter jets.
They wrote in the caption: “Ready to take on Monday like… #weareliberty”.
RAF spokesman Martin Tinworth said the aircraft had an “exceptional flight safety record”.
A spokeswoman for HM Coastguard said this morning: “The HM Coastguard helicopter from Humberside has been sent along with Bridlington and Scarborough RNLI lifeboats.
“Following a Mayday broadcast by HM Coastguard, other vessels nearby are heading to the area.”
The 48th Fighter Wing is the US Air Force’s only F-15 fighter wing based in Europe. Almost 6,000 military personnel are attached to the unit.
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In 2015, a US F-18 fighter jet crashed near the town of Ely, in eastern England after taking off from RAF Lakenheath. The pilot was killed.
And another crash saw a F-15 crash into a field, with the pilot surviving after managing to eject from the aircraft in 2014.
In January that year, four airmen died after a helicopter crashed during a training exercise.
More to follow…
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