Wisconsin-based military pilot is declared dead after crashing his F-16 fighter jet during routine training mission in Michigan forest
- The Wisconsin Air National Guard said the pilot of a F-16 Fighting Falcon that crashed December 8 is dead
- The pilot was assigned to the 115th Fighter Wing based in Madison, Wisconsin
- The aircraft was partaking in a routine training mission with one pilot on board
- The crash occurred at night, somewhere in Michigan's Hiawatha National Forest
By
MAXINE SHEN FOR DAILYMAIL.COM and
LUKE KENTON FOR DAILYMAIL.COM
PUBLISHED: 14:39 GMT, 11 December 2020 | UPDATED: 15:11 GMT, 11 December 2020
The
Wisconsin Air National Guard pilot who went missing after crashing an F-16 fighter jet in
Michigan's Upper Peninsula during a routine training mission has been declared dead.
The pilot's F-16 Fighting Falcon, assigned to the 115th Fighter Wing based in Madison, Wisconsin, had crashed at around 8pm on December 8 in Michigan’s Hiawatha National Forest during a routine training mission.
The Wisconsin Air National Guard said that a multi-state, interagency search for the pilot and aircraft began immediately after the crash.
On Thursday afternoon, however, the National Guard announced that the pilot was dead.
The identity of the pilot has not yet been revealed, per Department of Defense policy regarding the notification of the pilot's relatives.
The Wisconsin Air National Guard said Thursday that the pilot of a F-16 Fighting Falcon (file image) who went missing after crashing into a forest on December 8 is dead
'We are deeply saddened by this tragic loss; our thoughts and prayers are with the family during this difficult time,' 115th Fighter Wing commander Col. Bart Van Roo said in a statement on the 115th Fighter Wing
Facebook page Thursday.
'Today is a day for mourning, the 115th Fighter Wing and the entire Wisconsin National Guard stands with the pilot’s family as we grieve the loss of a great Airman, and patriot.'
Van Roo added: 'We are an extremely close knit group at the fighter wing, the loss of one of our own brings immeasurable sadness to every member of our organization.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation.
It's believed the aircraft went down just north of the Garden Peninsula along the Delta-Schoolcraft county line in the Hiawatha National Forest, according to
WLUC.
At the time of the incident, the aircraft was partaking in a routine training mission with only the pilot on board.
Searches were conducted by emergency service crews and the US Coast Guard throughout Tuesday night, while U.S. Forest Service workers also assisted local authorities in the search and set up a perimeter in the area.
The 115th Fighter Wing said Thursday afternoon that the pilot of the crashed F-16 had died
Searches were conducted by emergency service crews throughout the week at the Hiawatha National Forest (pictured), which is about 250 miles from where the jet took off
The pilot was assigned to the 115th Fighter Wing based in Madison, Wisconsin (above)
Search and rescue efforts continued Wednesday on the ground, in the air, and in the water. Poor cell phone connectivity in the very rural area was reported to have hindered communication efforts.
Delta County Sheriff Ed Oswald said the crash occurred in 'a very remote area with no cellphone service,' the
Air Force Times reported.
The Hiawatha National Forest covers about 879,000 acres and is about 250 miles northeast of the Truax Field, where the Fighting Falcon was based.
The 115th Fighter Wing was conducting evening training missions during the week, according to a statement posted to its Facebook page, with aircraft reportedly taking off or landing as late as 10pm.
Training flights normally take place during daylight hours, but pilots and maintenance personnel are required to conduct evening and nighttime operations as part of their overall readiness, the guard said.
Pilots are tasked with following flight paths designed to minimize noise to residents.
The 115th Fighter Wing training missions were set to come to an end on December 10.
Originally built for the U.S. Air Force, F-16s - also referred to as vipers - gained a reputation as a nimble, multi-role fighter plane.
The aircraft continue to be in wide use by different military groups, including the Air National Guard.
In April, the Air Force had announced that in 2023, Truax Field will be given a fleet of 18 new F-35 fighter planes to replace its aging F-16s.
There have been at least two crashes involving F-16 jets this year.
In June, a US Air Force F-16CM Fighting Falcon crashed during a late-night flight departing from South Carolina's Shaw Air Force Base. Pilot 1st Lt. David Schmitz was killed during the incident.
And in July, an Air Force F-16C Viper crashed during landing at New Mexico's Holloman Air Force base. The pilot ejected from the fighter jet, surviving the crash with only minor injuries.
In November last year, Air Force Magazine reported that the Air Force said that it had seen no data pointing to any safety issues with the fighter aircraft, despite a string of F-16 crashes over the years.
The military has been using variations of F-16s since 1978. The Air Force's Thunderbirds fly F-16s during their aerial demonstrations and the US Navy also uses them.
The Wisconsin Air National Guard revealed Thursday afternoon that the pilot whose F-16 fighter jet crashed in Michigan's Hiawatha National Forest on December 8 is dead.
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