This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-lincolnshire-29544064
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| USAF F-15 jet crashes in Lincolnshire | USAF F-15 jet crashes in Lincolnshire |
| (about 14 hours later) | |
| A US military aircraft has crashed in a field near houses and a school in Lincolnshire. | A US military aircraft has crashed in a field near houses and a school in Lincolnshire. |
| Witnesses saw the F-15D come down in a field off Broad Gate, Weston Hills, near Spalding at about 15:30 BST. | Witnesses saw the F-15D come down in a field off Broad Gate, Weston Hills, near Spalding at about 15:30 BST. |
| The pilot ejected from the aircraft and police said he had escaped with very minor injuries. | |
| The US Air Force said the jet was from the 48th Fighter Wing based at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk and had crashed during a combat training exercise. | The US Air Force said the jet was from the 48th Fighter Wing based at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk and had crashed during a combat training exercise. |
| Base commander Col Robert Novotny said: "We're very fortunate, our pilot ejected... he's in fine spirits." | Base commander Col Robert Novotny said: "We're very fortunate, our pilot ejected... he's in fine spirits." |
| He added that it was unclear what had caused the crash. | He added that it was unclear what had caused the crash. |
| An HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter transported the pilot back safely to the base where he is being treated. | An HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter transported the pilot back safely to the base where he is being treated. |
| Witness Janet Prescott said: "It's frightening to think that the jet has passed over houses and the village school. Who knows how that jet could have come down. | Witness Janet Prescott said: "It's frightening to think that the jet has passed over houses and the village school. Who knows how that jet could have come down. |
| "From the point he ejected to where the plane came down is probably a mile. That jet has continued flying with no-one in it. | "From the point he ejected to where the plane came down is probably a mile. That jet has continued flying with no-one in it. |
| "It could have hit any one of a number of houses. Thank God it didn't." | "It could have hit any one of a number of houses. Thank God it didn't." |
| Weston Hills Church of England Primary School was evacuated but a member of staff said everyone at the school was fine. | Weston Hills Church of England Primary School was evacuated but a member of staff said everyone at the school was fine. |
| Shaun Gough, whose twin five-year-old daughters are pupils at the school, said part of the aircraft's wing had landed in the field about 400yds (365m) away. | Shaun Gough, whose twin five-year-old daughters are pupils at the school, said part of the aircraft's wing had landed in the field about 400yds (365m) away. |
| "It was coming down from the sky backwards like it was out of control in a spin," said Mr Gough. | "It was coming down from the sky backwards like it was out of control in a spin," said Mr Gough. |
| "There were two aircraft which had been circling around most the afternoon and there was a roar, then silence, which made us look across." | "There were two aircraft which had been circling around most the afternoon and there was a roar, then silence, which made us look across." |
| "I was watching when it came down back end first, and when you're standing watching it come down close to your daughters' school it's pretty horrendous," he said. | "I was watching when it came down back end first, and when you're standing watching it come down close to your daughters' school it's pretty horrendous," he said. |
| "When my wife went to the school to pick up my daughter she said the black smoke was blowing across the car park and into the school. | "When my wife went to the school to pick up my daughter she said the black smoke was blowing across the car park and into the school. |
| "I've seen a Sea King helicopter land and pick somebody up. I'm guessing it's the pilot." | "I've seen a Sea King helicopter land and pick somebody up. I'm guessing it's the pilot." |
| At the scene | At the scene |
| Bernard White, who had earlier seen the plane go up in a "fireball", said Weston Hills was now in "lockdown". | Bernard White, who had earlier seen the plane go up in a "fireball", said Weston Hills was now in "lockdown". |
| He said police officers asked him to leave his house due to "acrid smoke" but he refused. | He said police officers asked him to leave his house due to "acrid smoke" but he refused. |
| Mr White said he saw American military vehicles enter the village. A number of firefighters were at the scene but he said everything had since "quietened down". | Mr White said he saw American military vehicles enter the village. A number of firefighters were at the scene but he said everything had since "quietened down". |
| Lincolnshire Police advised people to avoid the area as fumes from the fire may be hazardous. | Lincolnshire Police advised people to avoid the area as fumes from the fire may be hazardous. |
| A statement said: "The plane has come down in an isolated rural area and no premises have been affected. | A statement said: "The plane has come down in an isolated rural area and no premises have been affected. |
| "The plane belongs to the US Air Force based at RAF Lakenheath and the pilot has escaped with only very minor injury." | "The plane belongs to the US Air Force based at RAF Lakenheath and the pilot has escaped with only very minor injury." |
| Bernard White, who was working at home in Weston Hills, said he heard "a scream" overhead. | Bernard White, who was working at home in Weston Hills, said he heard "a scream" overhead. |
| "The aircraft seemed low and then it went 'woof' like a big thump," he said. | "The aircraft seemed low and then it went 'woof' like a big thump," he said. |
| "I looked out the kitchen window and it was down. I saw a parachute in the distance. [The aircraft] was a fireball but now looks incredibly intact." | "I looked out the kitchen window and it was down. I saw a parachute in the distance. [The aircraft] was a fireball but now looks incredibly intact." |
| The US Air Force said the plane crashed at 15:28 while conducting a combat training mission. | The US Air Force said the plane crashed at 15:28 while conducting a combat training mission. |
| A statement said: "One person was on board the aircraft at the time and ejected safely. | A statement said: "One person was on board the aircraft at the time and ejected safely. |
| "A board of qualified officers will investigate the accident." | "A board of qualified officers will investigate the accident." |