The body of an Air Force fighter pilot whose F-16 went down in Arizona has been found by search crews.
The body of an Air Force fighter pilot whose F-16 went down Friday in Arizona has been found by search crews. Crews discovered the wreckage around 10:30 PM in a remote area. A G-suit and parachute were discovered. The pilot's name was being withheld until his family is notified. The site, located 87 miles west of Phoenix in the Buckskin Mountains, is reachable only by helicopter.
By: Steven Chu
Mar 15, 2008 23:15 PM GMT
The Air Force student pilot, assigned to the 62nd Fighter Squadron, was flying an F-16 fighter jet out of Luke Air Force Base when his plane crashed in a remote area about 12:15 PM Friday. His body was found Saturday afternoon.The pilot's name was being withheld until his family is notified. Crews discovered the wreckage around 10:30 PM in a remote area of western Arizona. A "G-suit" and parachute were discovered, but no pilot. The site, located 87 miles west of Phoenix in the Buckskin Mountains, is reachable only by helicopter. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family as we grieve the tragic loss of this outstanding Airman," Brigadier General Tom Jones, 56th Fighter Wing commander said. "Anytime we lose an Airman, our entire Air Force family feels the loss." The pilot was on an air-to-air student training mission when the crash occurred around noon. A board of senior officers has been convened to investigate the accident.
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