S.C. Air National Guard

Photo By Senior Airman Ashleigh Pavelek | Fighter pilots, assigned to the 169th Fighter Wing of the South Carolina Air National Guard, resume flying operations at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, S.C., June 11, 2016. This is the fighter pilot's first take off since to F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets collided during a routine night time training mission. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Ashleigh Pavelek)  

EASTOVER, SC, UNITED STATES

06.11.2016

Story by 1st Lt. Stephen Hudson 

169th Fighter Wing

Flying was temporarily suspended after the mishap, while the Georgia State Patrol and other agencies assisted the search for the crash sites.

The South Carolina Air National Guard is preparing for an upcoming deployment to the Pacific Air Forces area of responsibility, and the Swamp Fox pilots and maintenance crews resumed training for the deployment.

“Over the last few days we have been focused on aircraft recovery, reviewing our processes and preparing assessments, and we are ready to get back to the business of training for combat,” said Col. Nicholas Gentile, 169th Fighter Wing commander.

Gentile added the Aerospace Control Alert at McEntire never stopped providing around-the-clock fighter aircraft capable of responding to threats along the eastern coast of the United States, and remained fully operational.

“We have continued our vigilant watch in defense of the nation,” Gentile said.

The aircraft crash Tuesday night is the first loss of a Swamp Fox jet in more than 30 years. The fighter wing had more than 170,000 accident-free flying hours.

The two South Carolina Air National Guard F-16s collided June 7 at approximately 9:15 p.m., and both pilots ejected safely. While the aircraft were destroyed in the crash, no one on the ground was injured, and both pilots were unharmed.

Teams from the South Carolina Air National Guard are searching the woods and surrounding fields in Jefferson County for debris, and ask anyone who finds parts or pieces of an aircraft contact the S.C. Air National Guard at [phone] or local authorities by dialing 911.

A U.S. Air Force Safety Investigation Board, made up of experienced Air Force aviation and safety experts, is convening to determine the cause.

• Date Taken: 06.11.2016
• Date Posted: 06.12.2016 15:51
• Story ID: 200804
• Location: EASTOVER, SC, US