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US Air Force F-15 jet crash prompts safety fears | US Air Force F-15 jet crash prompts safety fears |
(1 day 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 said the accident would be investigated. One MP vowed 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". |
Threw helmet 'in disgust' | Threw helmet 'in disgust' |
Brian Jex, who works at a garage near the crash site, went to help the pilot when he landed. | Brian Jex, who works at a garage near the crash site, went to help the pilot when he landed. |
"He stood up, threw his helmet on the floor, in disgust, I think," said Mr Jex. | "He stood up, threw his helmet on the floor, in disgust, I think," said Mr Jex. |
"I asked him if he was all right. He said yes, and he used my phone to phone his base, I presume. | "I asked him if he was all right. He said yes, and he used my phone to phone his base, I presume. |
"We gathered his parachute up and walked him back to the road. | "We gathered his parachute up and walked him back to the road. |
"The police were there by then so we just left it to them." | "The police were there by then so we just left it to them." |
The fighter jet 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 houses, 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." |
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. | 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. |
"The aircraft is safe," he said. | "The aircraft is safe," he said. |
"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. | "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. |
"When we find out all the facts we release those to the public through the Accident Investigation Board. | "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." | "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." |
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. |
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. |
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." |