US Air Force F-15 warplane crashes in the North Sea off Middlesbrough during training flight as rescue mission is launched for pilot
- Aircraft was taking part in formation drill and rescue mission has been launched
- The single-seater jet was based at RAF Lakenheath, Suffolk, before 9.40am crash
- Two RNLI lifeboats were heading to the crash site as three KC-135 circled above
- Earlier today RAF Lakenheath shared pictures of three planes on its Twitter page
A US Air Force F-15 has crashed in the North Sea off the coast of Middlesbrough during a training flight.
The aircraft had been taking part in a formation drill off Flamborough Head and a rescue mission has been launched for the pilot.
The single-seater jet was based at RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk before it crashed at 9.40am. It is unclear what caused the incident.
Earlier today RAF Lakenheath shared pictures of three warplanes with the caption: ‘Ready to take on Monday like… #weareliberty.
The aircraft had been taking part in a formation drill off Flamborough Head and a rescue mission has been launched for the pilot (file photo)
Two RNLI lifeboats were heading to the crash site as three US Boeing KC-135 Stratotankers circled above.
A statement from the base said: ‘The aircraft was from the 48th Fighter Wing, RAF Leakenheath, United Kingdom.
‘At the time of the accident, the aircraft was on a routine training mission with one pilot on board.
‘The cause of the crash as well as the status of the pilot are unknown at this time and UK Search and Rescue have been called to support.’
Earlier today RAF Lakenheath shared pictures of three warplanes with the caption: ‘Ready to take on Monday like… #weareliberty.’
A US military helicopter crashed on the coast of eastern England in 2014, killing all four crew on board.
