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Fighter Jet Crash Kills Pilot in South Carolina, Air Force Says Air Force Pilot Killed in South Carolina Crash Is Identified
(about 4 hours later)
A military jet crashed at the Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina late Tuesday night, killing its pilot during a training exercise, the authorities said. A military jet crashed during a training exercise at the Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina late Tuesday night, killing its pilot, the authorities said.
Col. Lawrence T. Sullivan confirmed that the pilot had died in a Facebook video early Wednesday morning. He called the crash an “aircraft mishap.” Col. Lawrence T. Sullivan identified the pilot as First Lt. David Schmitz, and said in a Facebook video that the jet, an F-16CM Fighting Falcon, had crashed at 11:30 p.m. on Tuesday at the base.
The pilot was the only person on board the jet, an F-16CM Fighting Falcon, when it crashed at 11:30 p.m., the base said in a statement. The pilot was taken to Prisma Health Tuomey Hospital for treatment, according to a local news outlet, WIS-TV. The base said the pilot was on a “routine training mission,” and Colonel Sullivan called the crash an “aircraft mishap.” Lieutenant Schmitz was preparing to deploy overseas for combat operations, he said.
The name of the pilot was not released, pending notification of next of kin, Colonel Sullivan said. It was not immediately known what caused the crash.
“Out of respect and consideration for the family, we ask for your patience and to avoid speculation until we release more information,” he said. Lieutenant Schmitz was a member of the 77th Fighter Squadron, Colonel Sullivan said, and the jet, a single-seat aircraft, was assigned to the 20th Fighter Wing. Colonel Sullivan called Lieutenant Schmitz “one of our very best,” saying he had received his pilot’s license when he was 17 and “graduated at the top of his class in pilot training.”
It was not immediately known what caused the crash, the base said, adding that the pilot was on a “routine training mission.” Emergency crews could be seen at a base runway on Wednesday morning.
The jet, a single-seat aircraft, was assigned to the 20th Fighter Wing.
More than 6,000 active duty airmen are assigned to the Shaw Air Force Base, which is in Sumter, S.C., about 40 miles east of Columbia, according to a base spokeswoman.More than 6,000 active duty airmen are assigned to the Shaw Air Force Base, which is in Sumter, S.C., about 40 miles east of Columbia, according to a base spokeswoman.
Last month, an Air Force pilot, First Lt. Kenneth Allen, 27, was killed when his fighter jet crashed in the North Sea off the northeast coast of England on a training mission. He had been stationed at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, a base in eastern England.Last month, an Air Force pilot, First Lt. Kenneth Allen, 27, was killed when his fighter jet crashed in the North Sea off the northeast coast of England on a training mission. He had been stationed at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, a base in eastern England.
And in May, an Air Force F-35A crashed during a landing at the Eglin Air Force Base in western Florida. The pilot successfully ejected from the plane, and was taken to a base hospital, according to officials.And in May, an Air Force F-35A crashed during a landing at the Eglin Air Force Base in western Florida. The pilot successfully ejected from the plane, and was taken to a base hospital, according to officials.