04-04-2024Quote:
CBS News:
DOUGLAS, Ariz. -- A spokesman for the Iraqi defense minister says an Iraqi pilot who has been training in the United States for four years was flying an F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft that crashed in southern Arizona.
Iraq's Defense Ministry and the Arizona Air National Guard didn't have information on the fate of the pilot, who was the only person aboard when the plane went down during a Wednesday night training mission.
Brig. Gen. Tahseen Ibrahim, the ministry spokesman, says the Iraqi government has not heard what caused the crash.
A Guard statement says the pilot was flying with the 162nd Wing Arizona Air National Guard and rescuers have been sent to the crash site 5 miles east of Douglas Municipal Airport.
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ochise County sheriff's spokeswoman Carol Capas says the crash started a grass fire.
CBS Tuscon affiliate KOLD-TV says a large number of emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene, but the Douglas Fire Department had to pull back due to the proximity of the gas line. The station says homes in the vicinity were being evacuated. The fire grew quickly to a half-mile long, KOLD says.
The Sierra Vista Herald, published in Sierra Vista, Arizona, says the Arizona Department of Public Safety and U.S. Border Patrol were among the agencies that responded.
Operating out of Tucson National Airport, the 162nd Fighter Wing is the largest Air National Guard fighter wing in the country, and has been training pilots since 1969, according to CBS Phoenix affiliate KPHO-TV, adding that the 162nd has three flying squadrons of more than 170 F-16s.
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F-16 crashes near Douglas; families evacuated - Tucson News Now
DOUGLAS, AZ (Tucson News Now) - UPDATE 11:39 p.m.: The 162nd Wing of the Air National Guard just released the following statement:
"A single F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft flying with the 162nd Wing Arizona Air National Guard crashed about 8 p.m. today five miles east of Bisbee-Douglas International Airport. At the time of the incident, it was on a night training mission with one person on board. The status of the pilot is unknown at this time. A board will be appointed to investigate the incident. Additional details will be provided as soon as they become available."
An F-16 from the 162nd Wing of the Air National Guard has crashed near Douglas, Ariz.
Initial reports were that two aircraft had crashed, but there was only one, according to Tanja Linton, a Fort Huachuca spokeswoman.
The crash happened in the area of Davis Road, near Leslie Canyon, causing a large fire. Some families have been evacuated because of the blaze, which the Cochise County Sheriff's Office says is about a half-mile long and affecting air quality.
A large number of emergency personnel have been dispatched to the scene, but the Douglas Fire Dept. had to pull back due to the presence of gas lines in the area.
Linton said Fort Huachuca is sending personnel to help secure the site.
No word yet on the pilot.
Witness Raymond Candell says he saw the crash and called 911.
He saw fireball explosions that lit up the night sky like daylight, he said.
Stay with us online and on air for updates. We have a crew on scene.
Copyright 2015 Tucson News Now. All rights reserved.
CBS News:
DOUGLAS, Ariz. -- A spokesman for the Iraqi defense minister says an Iraqi pilot who has been training in the United States for four years was flying an F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft that crashed in southern Arizona.
Iraq's Defense Ministry and the Arizona Air National Guard didn't have information on the fate of the pilot, who was the only person aboard when the plane went down during a Wednesday night training mission.
Brig. Gen. Tahseen Ibrahim, the ministry spokesman, says the Iraqi government has not heard what caused the crash.
A Guard statement says the pilot was flying with the 162nd Wing Arizona Air National Guard and rescuers have been sent to the crash site 5 miles east of Douglas Municipal Airport.
C
ochise County sheriff's spokeswoman Carol Capas says the crash started a grass fire.
CBS Tuscon affiliate KOLD-TV says a large number of emergency personnel were dispatched to the scene, but the Douglas Fire Department had to pull back due to the proximity of the gas line. The station says homes in the vicinity were being evacuated. The fire grew quickly to a half-mile long, KOLD says.
The Sierra Vista Herald, published in Sierra Vista, Arizona, says the Arizona Department of Public Safety and U.S. Border Patrol were among the agencies that responded.
Operating out of Tucson National Airport, the 162nd Fighter Wing is the largest Air National Guard fighter wing in the country, and has been training pilots since 1969, according to CBS Phoenix affiliate KPHO-TV, adding that the 162nd has three flying squadrons of more than 170 F-16s.
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F-16 crashes near Douglas; families evacuated - Tucson News Now
DOUGLAS, AZ (Tucson News Now) - UPDATE 11:39 p.m.: The 162nd Wing of the Air National Guard just released the following statement:
"A single F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft flying with the 162nd Wing Arizona Air National Guard crashed about 8 p.m. today five miles east of Bisbee-Douglas International Airport. At the time of the incident, it was on a night training mission with one person on board. The status of the pilot is unknown at this time. A board will be appointed to investigate the incident. Additional details will be provided as soon as they become available."
An F-16 from the 162nd Wing of the Air National Guard has crashed near Douglas, Ariz.
Initial reports were that two aircraft had crashed, but there was only one, according to Tanja Linton, a Fort Huachuca spokeswoman.
The crash happened in the area of Davis Road, near Leslie Canyon, causing a large fire. Some families have been evacuated because of the blaze, which the Cochise County Sheriff's Office says is about a half-mile long and affecting air quality.
A large number of emergency personnel have been dispatched to the scene, but the Douglas Fire Dept. had to pull back due to the presence of gas lines in the area.
Linton said Fort Huachuca is sending personnel to help secure the site.
No word yet on the pilot.
Witness Raymond Candell says he saw the crash and called 911.
He saw fireball explosions that lit up the night sky like daylight, he said.
Stay with us online and on air for updates. We have a crew on scene.
Copyright 2015 Tucson News Now. All rights reserved.
