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US Air Force F-15 jet crash prompts safety fears | US Air Force F-15 jet crash prompts safety fears |
(35 minutes later) | |
The safety of military aircraft combat exercises over populated areas has been questioned after a US jet crashed near houses and a school in Lincolnshire. | The safety of military aircraft combat exercises over populated areas has been questioned after a US jet crashed near houses and a school in Lincolnshire. |
The pilot ejected from the F-15D before it crashed in a field in Weston Hills at 15:28 BST on Wednesday. | The pilot ejected from the F-15D before it crashed in a field in Weston Hills at 15:28 BST on Wednesday. |
A witness said the aircraft, which came from RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, flew unmanned for "a good mile". | |
The US Air Force (USAF) said the accident would be investigated. One MP said he would "keep a careful watch". | The US Air Force (USAF) said the accident would be investigated. One MP said he would "keep a careful watch". |
Four US aircrew died when a helicopter from RAF Lakenheath crashed in Norfolk while on a training mission in January. | Four US aircrew died when a helicopter from RAF Lakenheath crashed in Norfolk while on a training mission in January. |
The F-15D crashed during a combat training exercise involving two aircraft. | The F-15D crashed during a combat training exercise involving two aircraft. |
Janet Prescott said the aircraft were "dogfighting" over her house in Weston Hills for half an hour before the crash. | Janet Prescott said the aircraft were "dogfighting" over her house in Weston Hills for half an hour before the crash. |
She saw the F-15D come down and said it was "pure luck rather than judgement" that it did not hit houses and the school. | She saw the F-15D come down and said it was "pure luck rather than judgement" that it did not hit houses and the school. |
"From what I saw that was not a controlled crash," she said. | "From what I saw that was not a controlled crash," she said. |
"That plane was completely out of control and wasn't manned for the last mile it was flying. | "That plane was completely out of control and wasn't manned for the last mile it was flying. |
"When it lands so close to a school and so close to house, that, for me, is a major concern. | "When it lands so close to a school and so close to house, that, for me, is a major concern. |
"It could have taken any number of houses out. Weston Hills yesterday could have been another Lockerbie." | "It could have taken any number of houses out. Weston Hills yesterday could have been another Lockerbie." |
Ms Prescott said aircraft practised dogfighting over the area on a regular basis. | Ms Prescott said aircraft practised dogfighting over the area on a regular basis. |
"I think there needs to be a very serious review of what's going on in this area and the level of activity that's happening," she said. | "I think there needs to be a very serious review of what's going on in this area and the level of activity that's happening," she said. |
"The activity over the village and area has increased over the last few weeks, where we are getting jets on a daily basis. | "The activity over the village and area has increased over the last few weeks, where we are getting jets on a daily basis. |
"If they continue to dogfight over the village, who says it won't happen again? It's an accident waiting to happen." | "If they continue to dogfight over the village, who says it won't happen again? It's an accident waiting to happen." |
Colonel Robert Novotny, base commander at RAF Lakenheath, said lessons would be learned from the F-15D crash if they were necessary. | |
"It is safe and every time we have an aircraft accident, the air force does a wonderful job," he said. | |
"Safety, performance, the manner in which we conduct our training and all those things are put through the test. | |
"We learn lessons from them, if they are necessary, and obviously we continue to move forward with our training mission here." | |
Bernard White, who was working at home in Weston Hills when the F-15D crashed, said fighters often come "screaming" over his house but he does not take much notice. | |
"There must have been a one in a million chance of this crash happening so it doesn't really worry me," said Mr White. | |
"I was looking at the site this morning and thinking if the pilot had tried landing the plane where he did he couldn't have picked a better spot because it missed everything. | |
"But he didn't put it there, it was just chance." | |
In 2011, a councillor in nearby Deeping St James called for an investigation after two US F-15 jets, also from RAF Lakenheath, were seen apparently almost colliding while dogfighting over the village. | |
Sean Maffett, a former RAF navigator and aviation expert, believes combat training is usually done over the sea, but could have been done over land because of the weather. | Sean Maffett, a former RAF navigator and aviation expert, believes combat training is usually done over the sea, but could have been done over land because of the weather. |
An aviation enthusiast who claims to have heard radio transmissions from the F-15D before it crashed, passed on the information to Mr Maffett. | An aviation enthusiast who claims to have heard radio transmissions from the F-15D before it crashed, passed on the information to Mr Maffett. |
"As he was coming down he [the pilot] was calling out every thousand feet, and when he got down to 2,000ft he decided there was nothing more he could do, and he ejected from the aircraft," he added | "As he was coming down he [the pilot] was calling out every thousand feet, and when he got down to 2,000ft he decided there was nothing more he could do, and he ejected from the aircraft," he added |
John Hayes, MP for South Holland and the Deepings, said he was concerned about the safety of his constituents. | John Hayes, MP for South Holland and the Deepings, said he was concerned about the safety of his constituents. |
"I, of course, will keep a careful watch on this," he said. | "I, of course, will keep a careful watch on this," he said. |
"In these kind of circumstances there's always an investigation to find out what occurred and why, and to see if any lessons can be learned from that." | "In these kind of circumstances there's always an investigation to find out what occurred and why, and to see if any lessons can be learned from that." |