The pilot of the US Air Force F15C fighter aircraft that crashed off the north-east coast of England has been found dead, RAF Lakenheath said.
The single-seater US Air Force F15C Eagle, from the 48th Fighter Wing based at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk, crashed at around 9.40am on Monday while on a routine training exercise.
The cause of the crash is not known.
READ MORE: US Air Force fighter jet from RAF Lakenheath crashes into North Sea during training mission
The name of the pilot who died when his US Air Force F15C fighter aircraft crashed off the north-east coast of England will not be released until his family have been informed, RAF Lakenheath said.
The pilot of the downed F-15C Eagle from the 48th Fighter Wing has been located, and confirmed deceased.
This is a tragic loss for the 48th Fighter Wing community, and our deepest condolences go out to the pilot's family and the 493rd Fighter Squadron.https://t.co/GwCWFwImaS
— RAF Lakenheath (@48FighterWing) June 15, 2020
READ MORE: Wreckage of US fighter jet that crashed into North Sea is located
“This is a tragic loss for the 48th Fighter Wing community, and our deepest condolences go out to the pilot’s family and the 493rd Fighter Squadron,” a spokesman said.
The F15C is a model of jet that has been used by the US Air Force since 1979.
RAF Lakenheath is the “largest US Air Force-operated base in England and the only US air forces in Europe F15 fighter wing”, its website said.
The 48th Fighter Wing, which has operated from the base since 1960, has more than 4,500 “active-duty military members”.
Its mission statement is to “provide worldwide responsive combat air power and support”.
In October 2014, an F15D fighter jet based at RAF Lakenheath crashed in fields near Spalding in Lincolnshire.
The pilot ejected safely, suffering only minor injuries, and no-one on the ground was hurt.
A US Air Force investigation found that the crash was caused by the “angle of attack” of the aircraft and “imperfections” in the assembly of the jet’s nose cap.
In October 2015, US pilot Major Taj Sareen died when his F-18 Hornet jet crashed on farmland near RAF Lakenheath.
A subsequent investigation found the 34-year-old did not report problems with his aircraft before take-off.
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