Posted on 04/04/2013 10:20:44 PM PDT by Jet Jaguar
A US Air Force F-16 has crashed near Bagram Air Field in eastern Afghanistan, killing the pilot, according to the NATO command that oversees day-to-day operations in Afghanistan.
The crash occurred on April 3, after a night flight over mountainous terrain, the ISAF Joint Command announced in a news release. There was no indication of enemy fire in the area at the time of the Wednesday’s crash, in the east of the country.
The plane was on its final approach to land at Bagram Air Field after a routine air support mission around 11 p.m. when it lost contact with its wingman and the control tower, Air Force Central Command spokesperson Capt. Natassia Cherne said. It crashed 10 miles south of the runway.
The pilot's body has been recovered, and the crash site has been secured.
"While the cause of the crash is under investigation, initial reporting indicates there was no insurgent activity in the area at the time of the crash," the news release says.
The pilot has not yet been identified pending next-of-kin notification.
F-16 Ping.
Some concern as Shaw’s 77th FS is currently over there.
But, i have no info to add.
When do we leave?
2024? or after Mullah Omar has the Presidency?
KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (WLTX, AP) — An F-16 pilot from Shaw Air Force Base has died after his fighter jet crashed in Afghanistan.
The pilot’s body has been recovered, and the crash site has been secured. The crash is under investigation, but so far there were no reports of insurgent activity in the area at the time.
Air Force officials at Shaw tell us they will be releasing the information Friday. But sources confirm with News19 the officer involved was a pilot stationed at Shaw Air Force base.
The 77th fighter squadron, known as the Gamblers, is serving a 6-month deployment to Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan. That group includes pilots, administrative staffers, mechanics and technicians.
The pilots’ primary job in Afghanistan is to provide close-air support for U.S. and coalition troops on the ground.
http://www.wltx.com/news/article/230874/2/F-16-Pilot-From-Shaw-Air-Force-Base-Dies
Prayers up for the men that fly and fight.
/johnny
/johnny
Roger that.
Prayers up.
Prayers up!
what was so important?,
that a F-16 was used instead
of a drone.
RIP Eagle. May the Lord provide for your loved ones. HE must have had good reasons for you to be taken.
A few years ago one of the 77th’s pilot let my son shadow him for the day at Shaw. He taught him alot! I pray for all of the pilots! My son is very anxious to find out the identity. He has kept in loose email contact with this man.
HIS best for you and your son. Its such a noble profession IMHO.
I was in the 77th, back when it was the 77th TFS. Prayers for the family.
Prayers for the family.
F-16s are pretty darn reliable. I wonder if we’ll ever know what happened...
SUMTER, SC (WIS) -
An American F-16 fighter jet from Shaw Air Force Base crashed in eastern Afghanistan Wednesday, killing the U.S. pilot.
Capt. James Michael Steel, 29, of Tampa, Fla., died in the crash near Bagram Airfield, according to the Department of Defense. He was assigned to the 77th Fighter Squadron.
According to Stars and Stripes, the plane was on final approach to land after an air support mission when it crashed about 10 miles from the runway.
Steel graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 2006, completed pilot training and arrived at Shaw in June 2010. He was the chief of mobility for the 77th Fighter Squadron.
“Our condolences and prayers are with the family, friends and squadron members of Capt. Steel,” said Col. Clay Hall, 20th Fighter Wing commander. “This is a difficult time for Shaw AFB, but we are focused on taking care of the Steel family, our Airmen and continuing to execute the mission.”
Steel comes from a family with deep roots in the Air Force. His father, Maj. Gen. Robert Steel, was commandant of the National War College at Fort McNair in Washington, DC until January of 2011. He spoke at his son’s graduation from the 63rd Fighter Squadron in 2009.
Steel’s mother and five other siblings all have Air Force ties as well.
NATO said in a statement Thursday that the cause of the crash is still being investigated, but initial reporting indicates that there was “no insurgent activity in the area” when the plane went down.
Thank you for the information.
/johnny
FYI to post 15
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.