Friday, April 1, 2011

81st Fighter Squadron A-10C crashes in Germany

Updated April 2, 2011



The debris of a crashed A-10C Thunderbolt II lie in a field near Laufeld, western Germany on Friday, April 1, 2011. A police spokesman said the pilot ejected before the crash. He was injured and hospitalized. (AP Photo/dapd, Harald Tittel)



(Photo by Thomas Frey / AFP)


Spangdahlem A-10 crashes

4/1/2011 - SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) -- An Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II crashed about 3:57 p.m. local time April 1 north of the city of Wittlich, Germany.

The aircraft was from Spangdahlem Air Base. At the time of the accident, it was on a routine local training mission. A single pilot was on board the aircraft and has been evacuated for medical treatment. Details regarding the pilot's conditions are not available at this time. The name of the pilot is being withheld until family members have been notified.

First responders are currently at the scene and have the situation under control. A board of officers will investigate the accident.

Additional details will be provided as they become available.

(Courtesy 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs)

Source


A-10 crashes in western Germany
By Jill Laster - Staff writer
Air Force Times
Posted: Friday Apr 1, 2011 11:36:49 EDT

The pilot of an A-10 ejected before the single-seat gunship crashed in western Germany on Friday, the Air Force said.

The pilot, whose name was withheld until family members are notified, was being treated for injuries, according to a statement from Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany. No other details about the pilot were available, said Spangdahlem spokeswoman Airman 1st Class Brittney Frees.

The A-10 crashed about 3:57 p.m. local time north of the city of Wittlich near Laufeld, during a routine training mission, the statement said.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Source


A-10 Thunderbolt II crashes near Spangdahlem Air Base

By Kevin Dougherty and Marcus Klöckner
Stars and Stripes
Published: April 1, 2011

KAISERSLAUTERN, Germany — A U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft crashed near Spangdahlem Air Base on Friday afternoon while on a routine training mission.

The pilot was injured and taken to a nearby hospital.

Air Force investigators and firefighters were on the scene, according to a 52nd Fighter Wing news release.

"The jet crashed on a field roughly 250-300 meters away from the town," said Laufeld Mayor Karl-Josef Junk, who was standing outside his house when the plane crashed.

"I saw the jet — what appeared to me [to make] a slight turn to the right, and then he crashed with his nose down into the ground," said the mayor. He added that he heard two bangs, speculating that the first bang was the ejection of the pilot, and then he saw a huge cloud of smoke.

According to Junk, the pilot complained about back injuries.

"The firefighters were quickly at the scene and a helicopter transported the pilot to a hospital," he said.

Spangdahlem confirmed that the pilot was evacuated for medical treatment. An official announcement on the pilot's condition was not immediately available, but a nurse at a hospital in Trier said the airman was responsive. She declined further comment.

The identity of the pilot is being withheld pending notification of family members, Spangdahlem public affairs said.

The crash occurred shortly before 4 p.m. near Laufeld, which is north of the city of Wittlich. It has a population of about 520 inhabitants, Junk said.

The aircraft, also known as the Warthog, was part of the 81st Fighter Squadron at the Spangdahlem Air Base, in Rhineland Palatinate, said Senior Airman Nathanael Callon, a spokesman for the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem. The twin-engine A-10 is used to provide close air support for ground forces by attacking tanks and other targets.

Source


A-10 pilot in good condition

52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

4/1/2011 - SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- The pilot of the Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II aircraft that crashed near Laufeld, Germany, today is at a local hospital and is reported to be in good condition. He has been in contact with base leadership. His name is being withheld until his family is notified.

Additional details will be provided as they become available.

Source


See also some news articles in German language:
Amerikanischer Jet abgestürzt - Pilot überlebt (including photos)
US-Kampfjet stürzt in der Eifel ab (including large picture)
Amerikanischer A10-Kampfjet stürzt in der Eifel ab (including 30 photos!!!)
Militärjet aus Spangdahlem stürzt bei Laufeld ab (including video!!!)
Laufelder nach Flugzeugabsturz erleichtert: "Wir haben Riesenglück gehabt"
"Warzenschwein"-Absturz schockt Dorf in der Eifel (including photos)
A10-Flugzeugabsturz: Suche nach der Unglücksursache - Zustand des Piloten gut (including photos)


Videos:









As Warthog News contributor Philipp Jakob Schumacher from Germany e-mailed me later this evening, the crashed "Hog" should be A-10C 81-0962. This picture was taken in spring 2009. (Photo by Philipp Jakob Schumacher) Full size

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