Pilot killed as US fighter jet crashes in North Sea fog off Yorkshire coast

The pilot of a US fighter jet that crashed into the North Sea off the Yorkshire coast was found dead last night, after a difficult search and rescue operation.

The US air force plane, a F-15C Eagle, had been flying in formation with three other jets from the 48th Fighter Wing when it plunged into the waves at about 9.40am yesterday. Conditions were foggy, making the drill and the subsequent search and rescue mission harder.

The jet crashed about 85 miles off Flam borough Head, south of Scarborough in North Yorkshire.

Colonel Will Marshall, commander of the 48th Fighter Wing, also known as Statue of Liberty Wing, said he was “hopeful that our Liberty Wing airman will be located and recovered”.