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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".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 said the accident would be investigated. One MP vowed 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 fighter jet 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 houses, 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. Col Robert Novotny, base commander at RAF Lakenheath, said any lessons to be taken from the F-15D crash would be published in due course.
"It is safe and every time we have an aircraft accident, the air force does a wonderful job," he said. "The aircraft is safe," he said.
"Safety, performance, the manner in which we conduct our training and all those things are put through the test. "I've flown that aircraft in particular for about 20 years of my life. We have phenomenal maintenance personnel, we have very well trained pilots.
"We learn lessons from them, if they are necessary, and obviously we continue to move forward with our training mission here." "When we find out all the facts we release those to the public through the Accident Investigation Board.
"We'll make all of our lessons learned available to the public at the right time."
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.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."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."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.""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.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."