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US pilot killed in F-18 jet crash in Cambridgeshire named | US pilot killed in F-18 jet crash in Cambridgeshire named |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The US pilot who died when his F-18 Hornet jet crashed in a Cambridgeshire field has been named as Major Taj Sareen of the Marine Corps. | The US pilot who died when his F-18 Hornet jet crashed in a Cambridgeshire field has been named as Major Taj Sareen of the Marine Corps. |
The 34-year-old father was killed when his jet came down on farmland at Redmere, near RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, on Wednesday. | |
His squadron had just set off from RAF Lakenheath back to the US. | His squadron had just set off from RAF Lakenheath back to the US. |
A memorial fund to raise money for his daughter Jade has been set up and has already raised $18,000 (£11,600). | |
Annie Driscoll, a friend of Major Sareen since 2005, said she set up the fund to help "his beautiful daughter Jade" and hoped it would "teach her about [her father's] incredible charity and allow his story to live through her". | |
Major Sareen, 34, was killed when his jet came down on farmland at Redmere, near RAF Mildenhall in Suffolk, on Wednesday. | |
The pilot, who lived in San Mateo County, California, became a Marine Corps pilot in 2005. | The pilot, who lived in San Mateo County, California, became a Marine Corps pilot in 2005. |
'Sombre mood' | 'Sombre mood' |
He graduated from the University of San Francisco (USF) in 2004. | He graduated from the University of San Francisco (USF) in 2004. |
US ABC7 news photographer Chris Jewitt, who attended USF with Major Sareen, told the news network: "He had this confidence and this infectious smile. | US ABC7 news photographer Chris Jewitt, who attended USF with Major Sareen, told the news network: "He had this confidence and this infectious smile. |
"When he came in the room everyone wanted to talk to him." | "When he came in the room everyone wanted to talk to him." |
Major Sareen ejected from the plane but did not survive, the US Marine Corps said. | |
Colonel Robert Novotny, Commander of 48th fighter wing at RAF Lakenheath, said: "We are very sad about the loss of a fellow team member. We are ready to assist in any way in the investigation." | |
He said Marine Corps investigators were arriving later and would lead the probe, which was expected to take two to three months. | He said Marine Corps investigators were arriving later and would lead the probe, which was expected to take two to three months. |
"The mood is very sombre on the base, but very professional," he added. | "The mood is very sombre on the base, but very professional," he added. |
The aircraft was part of a fleet of six fighter jets due to fly to California, the US air force said. | The aircraft was part of a fleet of six fighter jets due to fly to California, the US air force said. |
The remaining five FA-18 Hornets safely diverted to RAF Lossiemouth airfield in Moray. The aircraft had been en-route from Bahrain and were scheduled to fly to their base in Miramar. | The remaining five FA-18 Hornets safely diverted to RAF Lossiemouth airfield in Moray. The aircraft had been en-route from Bahrain and were scheduled to fly to their base in Miramar. |
F-18 Hornet facts | F-18 Hornet facts |