Air Force Boeing F-15 Eagle from Kadena in Plane Crash

1/17/2006 - KADENA AIR BASE, Japan (AFPN) -- An Air Force Boeing F-15 Eagle from the 44th Fighter Squadron here crashed at approximately 10 a.m. today during an air-to-air training mission.

The location of the crash site was at an area known as W-173, an over-water training zone about 65 miles (55 nautical miles) northeast of here.

The fighter jet was part of a four-ship F-15 formation that took off from Kadena at approximately 9:30 a.m. The pilot ejected safely from the aircraft, and the other three F-15s returned safely to base.

An Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker crew remained in contact with the pilot, who was recovered at approximately 10:50 a.m. by a search and rescue team from Kadena