PLANE CRASH 5.21.2004 FLORIDA F-15/C
DATE: Fri, 21 May 2004 17:31:06 EDT
ST. GEORGE ISLAND, Fla. (AP) -- An F-15C fighter jet crashed off the coast of a resort island along the Florida Panhandle on Friday, but its pilot was able to eject from the plane, Air Force officials said.
The pilot, whose name was not immediately released, was pulled out of shallow water by a state Fish and Wildlife patrol boat about five miles off the coast of St. George Island, officials said.
"They said he was in good shape," said Lt. Stan Kirkland of the Franklin County Sheriff's Department.
The jet was assigned to the 325th Fighter Wing at Tyndall Air Force Base, near Panama City.
Frances Lingo saw the plane disappear below some trees, then heard a muffled sound and saw dirt or sand fly up in the air.
"There was nothing on fire. It was so weird, because we looked up and he was literally passing over our shoulder," Lingo said.
I remember your 'mystery plane' accident, that was a strange one.
Now, am I wrong, but are we not loosing a lot of the military jets here in the states?
Have we got terrorists as military jet mechanics?