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North Sea US jet crash: Pilot found dead | |
(32 minutes later) | |
The pilot of a US Air Force fighter jet which crashed into the North Sea has been found dead. | |
The F-15C Eagle, from the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, crashed shortly after 09:30 BST while on a training mission. | The F-15C Eagle, from the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, crashed shortly after 09:30 BST while on a training mission. |
The wreckage of the plane, thought to have crashed 74 nautical miles off the East Yorkshire coast, was found earlier. | The wreckage of the plane, thought to have crashed 74 nautical miles off the East Yorkshire coast, was found earlier. |
The cause of the crash is currently unknown. | The cause of the crash is currently unknown. |
A spokeswoman for the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath said: "The pilot of the downed F-15C Eagle from the 48th Fighter Wing has been located, and confirmed deceased. | A spokeswoman for the 48th Fighter Wing at RAF Lakenheath said: "The pilot of the downed F-15C Eagle from the 48th Fighter Wing has been located, and confirmed deceased. |
"The name of the pilot will not be released until all next of kin notifications have been made. | "The name of the pilot will not be released until all next of kin notifications have been made. |
"This is a tragic loss for the 48th Fighter Wing community, and our deepest condolences go out to the pilot's family and the 493rd Fighter Squadron." | "This is a tragic loss for the 48th Fighter Wing community, and our deepest condolences go out to the pilot's family and the 493rd Fighter Squadron." |
The F15C, a single-seater air defence fighter, is a model of jet that has been used by the US Air Force since 1979. | The F15C, a single-seater air defence fighter, is a model of jet that has been used by the US Air Force since 1979. |
RAF Lakenheath is the largest US Air Force-operated base in England and home to its only F-15 fighter wing in Europe. | RAF Lakenheath is the largest US Air Force-operated base in England and home to its only F-15 fighter wing in Europe. |
More than 4,000 US service men and women are stationed there. | More than 4,000 US service men and women are stationed there. |
The 48th Fighter Wing shared an image of three jets in flight on Monday morning. | The 48th Fighter Wing shared an image of three jets in flight on Monday morning. |
In October 2015, US pilot Maj Taj Sareen died when his F-18 Hornet jet crashed on farmland near RAF Lakenheath. | In October 2015, US pilot Maj Taj Sareen died when his F-18 Hornet jet crashed on farmland near RAF Lakenheath. |
An investigation found the 34-year-old had not reported problems with his aircraft to engineers prior to take-off, because he was concerned it would delay his colleagues. |