Jets Collide Over Gulf

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By WKRG Staff/Associated Press

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Published: Wed, February 20, 2008 - 5:34 pm

Update 10:50 p.m.
The Air Force says one of the
two pilots whose fighter jets crashed into the Gulf of Mexico has
died. The other pilot is in good condition.
The Air Force says the two single-seat F-15C Eagles likely
collided and crashed during a training exercise off the Florida
Panhandle. The pilots were able to eject and were later rescued.

Update 8:39 p.m.
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AP) - The Air Force says one of the
two pilots whose fighter jets crashed into the Gulf of Mexico has
died. The other pilot is in good condition.
The names of the pilots haven't been released.
The Air Force is investigating.

----- Watch the video from U.S. Coast Guard Rescue Crews. Hear how they spotted one of the pilots.

Update 6:15 p.m.
Around 5:00 p.m., Coast Guard crews from the Aviation Training Center Mobile located the first pilot and radioed a fishing vessel in the area to pick him up.
The pilot was later hoisted into a HH-60 Jayhawk from Coast Guard ATC Mobile

Click here to read statement from the Coast Guard about the search.

Click here to read statement from the Air Force about the pilots being found.

Update 6:00 p.m.

PENSACOLA, Fla. (AP) - The Air Force says both pilots from two
missing fighter jets, based at Eglin AFB, have been rescued in the Gulf of Mexico.
An Air Force spokeswoman says their single-seat F-15C Eagles
disappeared this afternoon during a training exercise off the
Florida Panhandle, about 35 miles south of Tyndall Air Force Base.
The Pentagon told CNN that the planes collided. But the Air Force says it has not made that determination or why
they might have crashed. Weather in the area was clear.
More than 60 Coast Guard personnel were involved in the search
using multiple helicopters, cutters and jets.

Update 5:30 p.m.

The Air Force says the two pilots from Eglin AFB that collided over the Gulf of Mexico have been found. Both pilots are being transported to medical facilities. There is no word on their condition at this time.
A press conference is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. CST. We'll have the sound for you tonight on News 5 at 10:00.

4:30 p.m.

The United States Coast Guard tells News 5 that the New Orleans' office was contacted just before 2:00 p.m. about two missing F-15 Fighter Jets. The jets were based out of Eglin Air Force Base in Okaloosa County, Florida.
The U.S. Coast Guard launched several crews to fly over Gulf Of Mexico: a rescue helicopter from New Orleans, Jay Hawk from Clearwater, Falcon Rescue Jet from Mobile, patrol boat from Panama City, a Navy Sea Fighter Research Vessel, and Tow Boat.

The Pentagon told CNN that the jets collided over the Gulf, 40 miles east of Panama City. The jets were part of the 33rd Fighter Wing, which is a combat unit at Eglin Air Force Base.

Click here to read the Air Force's statement on the missing jets.

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