U.S. Air Force Pilot Dies Following Midair Collision during Training Exercise

By Aaron Poehler

Published on February 21, 2008

The two single-seat jets from the 33rd Fighter Wing, 58th Fighter Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base collided Wednesday about 60 miles south of Panama City, Florida. While both pilots successfully ejected from their planes and were retrieved from the water, one pilot later died of injuries sustained in the collision. The second pilot remains at Eglin Air Force Base hospital and is listed as being in good condition. The names of both pilots involved in the crash are presently being withheld pending notification of the deceased pilot's next of kin.

The cause of the crash was not immediately known, and is currently under investigation by a board of Air Force officers. The weather in the area was said to be clear at the time of the accident. No debris from either plane has been recovered.

While the F-15C Eagle model remains the primary air-to-air fighter of the U.S. Air Force, the planes are currently being phased out in favor of the newer F-22 fighter jet. Air Force officials last week cleared most of their older F-15Cs for return to duty following a review that was prompted by the failure of a Missouri Air National Guard F-15C during a training exercise last November.

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