An
F-15C from Barnes ANGB, Mass., crashed in the Shenandoah Valley in Western
Virginia Wednesday morning, according to a
release.
The pilot’s whereabouts and condition were unknown as of Wednesday evening. "Our
thoughts and prayers go out to the pilot and his family, regardless of outcome.
This is a traumatic event and we remain vigilant as the search and recovery
effort is underway," said Col. James Keefe, 104th Fighter Wing Commander,
in a follow-on statement. The aircraft was on a cross-country, solo
mission to NAS New Orleans to receive a system upgrade when it experienced an
in-flight emergency before radio contact was lost around 9 a.m., base spokesman
1st Lt. Anthony Mutti told Air Force Magazine.
Following reports of dark smoke, local law enforcement agents arrived on the
scene to find the plane had crashed. Virginia Army National Guard,
Virginia Air National Guard, state and local police, the local fire department,
and federal agencies are conducting the search in the vicinity of the crash—a “densely
wooded and mountainous” area that “presents communication challenges for rescue
assets deployed to the area,” states the release. Officials said the aircraft
was not armed at the time of the crash.