F-22 missing in Alaska, presumed crashed

[BigBear]

Hope they find the pilot quickly in one piece and safe.... Prayers to the family.

[patrick0685]

any word on the pilot, i watched a special on the troops up there, they normally have the best cold weather gear with them

[Bailey Guns]

any word on the pilot, i watched a special on the troops up there, they normally have the best cold weather gear with them

11/19/2010 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Air Force officials here announced that search and rescue teams have found conclusive evidence the pilot of the F-22 Raptor missing since the night of Nov. 16 did not survive the crash.

Capt. Jeffrey Haney, assigned to the 3rd Wing's 525th Fighter Squadron, has been missing since the crash, however, a thorough search and rescue operation continued until today.

Captain Haney, from Clarklake, Mich., was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force in August 2003 and has been stationed here since June 2006.

"Based on evidence recovered from the crash site, and after two days of extensive aerial and ground search efforts, we know that Captain Haney did not eject from the aircraft prior to impact," said Col. Jack McMullen, 3rd Wing commander.

A recovery team at the crash site found a part of the ejection seat, along with several life support items that Captain Haney wore during the flight.

"Sadly, we can no longer consider this a search and rescue operation, but must now focus on recovery operations," Colonel McMullen said.

"We are all extremely saddened by the loss of this great American, Airman and friend," the colonel continued. "Captain Haney will be missed by the entire 3rd Wing and the (Joint Base Elmendorf) community.

"Right now, our focus is on Jeff's family," Colonel McMullen said. "We mourn their loss, and they are in our thoughts and prayers. We are doing everything in our power to offer them support and aid them during this time of grief."

The aircraft lost contact with air traffic control at 7:40 p.m. Alaska time, Nov. 16, while on a nighttime training mission. Search and rescue aircraft from the Alaska Air National Guard's 11th Rescue Coordination Center discovered the wreckage of the aircraft Nov. 17 in a remote, rugged area approximately 100 miles north of Anchorage near Denali National Park.

Airmen and Soldiers from the 3rd Wing, the 673nd Air Base Wing and U.S. Army Alaska's 3rd Maneuver Enhancement Brigade converged on the site Nov. 17 and 18 with assistance from the Alaska Air National Guard to continue the search for the pilot and prepare for recovery of the aircraft wreckage.

Recovery operations are currently underway and are expected to last several weeks. Air Force officials are standing up a safety investigation board to determine the cause of the mishap.

The Air Warrior Courage Foundation has set up an education fund for Captain Haney's children. Donations to the college fund for Captain Haney's daughters may be made at www.AirWarriorCourage.org specifying "For the Jeffrey Haney children." Or, donations can be made by check made out to AWCF, and mailed to:
AWCF
PO Box 877
Silver Spring, MD 20918-0877.

The "For" line on the check should designate "For the Jeffrey Haney children."

[Irving]

That's too bad.

[ChunkyMonkey]

Rest in peace. Prayers to the family.

[BigBear]

Prayers inbound... Interested to know what failed on the plane/pilot?

[Hoser]

Prayers inbound... Interested to know what failed on the plane/pilot?

It will be several months before the safety and accident report are out.

We just now got the AIB report from the C-17 crash.

[BigBear]

Hoser, doesn't the military use "real-time" tracking equipment? Wouldn't they already know what happened? Or do they just have to wait x amount of time to do the research/etc to "make sure" that's what really happened?

Poor pilot, major prayers to the family. What a horrible way to lose a loved one.

[Hoser]

Hoser, doesn't the military use "real-time" tracking equipment? Wouldn't they already know what happened? Or do they just have to wait x amount of time to do the research/etc to "make sure" that's what really happened?

It takes time to get a final answer. Putting out bad info and then changing your mind isnt cool.

[BigBear]

It takes time to get a final answer. Putting out bad info and then changing your mind isnt cool.

Rgr that. I hear you.