An F-15C that took off from Nellis AFB, Nev., crashed in a remote area roughly 115 miles north of Las Vegas, according to base officials. The piloted ejected and sustained no injuries in the Oct. 24 mishap, they said. A helicopter rescued the pilot, who was hiking away from the aircraft wreckage, about 30 minutes after the crash, reported the Associated Press (via the Las Vegas Review-Journal). The pilot was flown to a local hospital for evaluation. Lincoln County Sheriff Kerry Lee told AP that the crash site—on federal land northwest of Alamo—was “out in the desert” and “really hard to get to.” Lee said it didn’t appear that the airplane slammed into the ground since there was “a lot of the plane left,” but “burned up.” The Air Force is investigating the accident. (Includes Nellis release)
When Airmen eject, the mission is clear: America leaves no warrior behind. Airmen are trained to survive, evade, resist, and escape the enemy, and everyone from ground crew to rescue personnel and commanders are committed to doing everything necessary—and possible—to bring downed Airmen home.