NEW ORLEANS – At approximately 5 p.m. Coast Guard crews located and rescued two Air Force F-15C Eagle pilots, from the 33rd Fighter Wing attached to Eglin Air Force Base Fla., after their aircraft were reported missing in the Gulf of Mexico today at approximately 2 p.m.
A HC-144A Ocean Sentry from Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile, Ala. spotted the first pilot and radioed good Samaritians from the fishing vessel Nina who picked up the pilot. The pilot was later hoisted into a HH-60 Jayhawk from Coast Guard ATC Mobile. A Jayhawk rescue helicopter from Coast Guard Air Station Clearwater, Fla. located and rescued the second pilot. The two pilots were taken to Eglin Air Force Base hospital.
Searching were:
A HH-60 Jayhawk from Air Station Clearwater
A HH-60 Jayhawk from ATC Mobile
Two HU-25 Falcon rescue jet crews from ATC Mobile
A HC-144A Ocean Sentry
A HH-65 from Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans
Coast Guard Cutter Coho, homeported in Panama City, Fla.
A Coast Guard 41-foot Utility Boat from Station Panama City
