MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A student pilot and instructor were identified as the two people killed Friday in a military aircraft crash in Alabama, the U.S. Air Force said Saturday.
The plane, which was based in Columbus, Mississippi, crashed about 15 miles southwest of Montgomery, Montgomery Regional Airport executive director Marshall Taggart Jr. told WSFA.
Air Force officials declined to give the names of the persons killed until family members are notified, WIAT reported. Officials confirmed that the occupants of the T-38 training aircraft were a 23-year-old from Japan, who was the student pilot; and a 25-year-old instructor, the television station reported.
Student pilot, instructor identified as victims in fatal plane crash in Montgomery field https://t.co/acjZs8Ri4G
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“Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the two pilots involved in this incident,” Col. Seth Graham, 14th Flying Training Wing commander, said in a statement. “There are no words that can describe the sadness that accompanies the loss of our teammates.”
Air Force officials said the pair were flying out of the 14th Flying Training Wing at Columbus Air Force Base as part of a two-day training trip. The plane crashed around 5:30 p.m. in Dannelly Field in Montgomery.
>> 2 killed when military plane crashes in Alabama
Taggart said the aircraft was headed to Tallahassee, Florida, at the time of the crash, WFSA reported.
All flying missions from Columbus Air Force have been suspended, WIAT reported.
A military investigation has been launched, and Air Force officials said it could take anywhere from one to two months to complete.
Cox Media Group
