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US Air Force fighter jet pilot dead after North Sea crash

A US Air Force F-15 fighter jet pilot died Monday after the aircraft crashed in the North Sea off England, according to a statement from the 48th Fighter Wing.

“The pilot of the downed F-15C Eagle from the 48th Fighter Wing has been located, and confirmed deceased,” the group said in a statement.

“This is a tragic loss for the 48th Fighter Wing community, and our deepest condolences go out to the pilot’s family and the 493rd Fighter Squadron,” it added.

The 48th Fighter Wing said in an earlier statement that the cause of the crash was unknown at the time, and that U.K. Search and Rescue had been called for support.

“A U.S. Air Force F-15C Eagle crashed at approximately 0940 [local time] today in the North Sea,” the earlier statement said, noting that “at the time of the accident, the aircraft was on a routine training mission with one pilot on board.”

The aircraft was based at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, a US Air Force-operated base in Suffolk, England, that is home to the US Air Force’s Europe-based F-15 fighter wing.

The UK’s Coastguard was coordinating the search response and said in a statement to CNN it received reports of “an aeroplane going down into the sea 74 nautical miles off Flamborough Head.”

Flamborough Head is on the East Yorkshire coast, in northern England.

The British coast guard located the wreckage and search and rescue efforts were underway earlier Monday, according to a statement from the 48th Fighter Wing.

US Ambassador to the UK Woody Johnson tweeted his condolences.

“It is with great sorrow that we have learned of the loss of our Airman today. Our thoughts and prayers go out to family, friends and U.S. forces in the UK,” he said.

CNN has reached out to the Pentagon for additional details.

This story has been updated with additional details on the crash.


Source: Fox 8 News Channel

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