US pilot found dead after F-15 crash near England

The pilot of a fighter jet that crashed into the North Sea, off the coast of northern England, has been found dead, the US Air Force says.

In a statement hours after the crash, it says, “The pilot of the downed F-15C Eagle from the 48th Fighter Wing has been located, and confirmed deceased.”

It says this is a “tragic loss” for the 48th Fighter wing community and sends condolences to the pilot’s family.

The name of the pilot will not be released until all next of kin notifications have been made.

Earlier, rescuers found the wreckage of the jet that was on a routine training mission from RAF Lakenheath when it crashed at 9:40 a.m. The cause of the crash was not immediately clear.

Britain’s coast guard located wreckage from the downed fighter, and recovery efforts were underway, the US Air Force says in a statement.

Coast guard officials say in a statement that they received reports the plane went down 74 nautical miles off Flamborough Head on the Yorkshire coast.

A helicopter and lifeboats were deployed.

“Other vessels nearby are heading to the area,” the coast guard says in a statement.

Lakenheath is a Royal Air Force base that hosts the US Air Force’s 48th Fighter Wing, known as the Liberty Wing. The base is about 80 miles (130 kilometers) northeast of London.

The wing has more than 4,500 active-duty military members.

— AP