The Air Force Times reports on the Air Force investigation of the F-22 crash in Alaska in November, 2010. The report
blames the Nov. 16, 2010, crash of an F-22 Raptor on Capt. Jeff “Bong” Haney — despite a malfunction of the jet’s bleed air intakes, which caused an automatic shutdown of multiple aircraft systems including the primary oxygen system.
In essence, the report says his oxygen system failed, but that he Read more
According to news reports, the July C-17 crash that killed four crewmembers shortly after takeoff in Alaska was caused by pilot error. The report’s press release and a video of the C-17 takeoff (up to just prior to impact), are available on the PACAF website. (The video has already made it to YouTube as well.)
The Air Force announced that pieces of the ejection seat were found at the impact site of the F-22 crash in Alaska, indicating the pilot, Capt Jeffrey Haney, did not eject and therefore did not survive the crash.
Haney is survived by his parents, a wife, and two young daughters. As noted at the official Air Force release (and as previously highlighted by Dealer):
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.”
As noted at Military.com, FoxNews, CNN, and the ADN.
Former NASA Administrator and Secretary of the Navy Sean O’Keefe survived the plane crash that killed former Alaska Senator Ted Stevens. In recounting the ordeal, he noted but couldn’t explain the fact that he and his son survived while the others perished.
“The degree of separation between survival and not was a fraction of what you ever imagined. It could have been anybody,” O’Keefe said. “The randomness of this whole experience was such that any doubts you have about divine intervention go away.”
Updated with names of crew.
The Air Force announced that a C-17 Globemaster III crashed shortly after takeoff from Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, on Wednesday, killing the four crewmembers. There are indications the crew was practicing for the upcoming Arctic Thunder airshow this weekend. While large aircraft occasionally have incidents on landing or on the ground, the catastrophic loss of a military cargo aircraft from a flight mishap is a relatively rare event.
Elmendorf leaders have announced the 2010 Arctic Thunder airshow will proceed as planned.
As is the common practice, the Air Force did not speculate and will conduct a month-long investigation to determine the cause.
UPDATE: The Air Force released the names of those killed on the C-17:
Maj. Michael Freyholtz
Maj. Aaron Malone
Capt. Jeffrey Hill
Master Sgt. Thomas Cicardo