2 F-16s Collide Off SC Coast; 1 Missing

[Luigi59]

2 F-16s Collide Off SC Coast; 1 Missing

POSTED: 3:01 am EDT October 16, 2009
UPDATED: 6:12 am EDT October 16, 2009

NEAR CHARLESTON, S.C. -- The Air Force says crews are searching for an F-16 fighter pilot off the coast of South Carolina after two jets collided Thursday night.

The jets were based out of Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter.

Shaw AFB spokesman Robert Sexton says the two planes collided at about 8:30 p.m. Thursday about 40 miles off Folly Beach, near Charleston, during night training exercises.

Each plane was carrying one person.

Sexton says a fighter piloted by Cpt. Lee Bryant landed safely at Charleston Air Force Base, but the location of the other fighter piloted by Cpt. Nicholas Giglio is unknown.

Sexton says members of the U.S. Coast Guard, U.S. Navy and pilots from Charleston Air Force Base are currently searching for the missing pilot and the wreckage.

It is unclear at this point if Giglio was able to safely eject from his jet.

Bryant is being looked at by medical personnel. He has been interviewed about what happened but details of that conversation have not been released.

A board of officers is already getting together to review this incident and determine how to prevent it from happening in the future.

 

[Pima]

My prayers go out to the family, but those on base, and the 16 community, I know full well how it touches everyone in this situation.

 

[Luigi59]

Coast Guard suspends search for missing F-16 pilot
Oct 17th, 2009

CHARLESTON, S.C. – The Coast Guard suspended its search for a missing Air Force pilot off the South Carolina coast Saturday at 10 p.m.

Air Force Capt. Nicholas Giglio’s, of the 20th Fighter Wing of Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., F-16 collided with a second F-16 at approximately 8:30 p.m. Thursday. Shaw AFB contacted the Coast Guard to assist in the search for the missing pilot.

The Coast Guard searched a total of more than 8,000 square-nautical-miles during the more than 48-hour continuous search. Coast Guard search and rescue personnel and equipment from Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia and Florida participated in the search, which included Coast Guard cutters, C-130 Hercules aircraft, HH-65 Dolphin helicopters, small boats and search and rescue coordinators from Coast Guard command centers. Units from the Air Force, Navy, Charleston area law enforcement and good Samaritans also assisted in the search.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Giglio family during this difficult time, said Capt. Michael McAllister, commander, Coast Guard Sector Charleston. “Deciding to suspend a search is one of the most difficult decisions a sector commander has to make. I want to take this opportunity to thank the Air Force and our other search and rescue partners for their diligence, dedication and support during this search.”

Giglio has been a fighter pilot for 18 months and part of the 77th Fighter Squadron training for a scheduled deployment to Iraq early next year. Originally from New Jersey, the 32-year-old pilot leaves behind a wife, a young daughter and a baby on the way.

Officials said there were reports of debris and an oil slick in the water after the crash, but investigators haven't determined if that came from Giglio's jet. The water is about 50 feet deep in the area where the Air Force thinks the F-16 went down, according to authorities.