Thursday, November 30, 2006
F-16 pilot still missing, DNA testing ongoing
Security
The Pentagon on Wednesday identified a U.S. airman who is missing but presumed dead after his F-16 crashed near Baghdad on Monday. Maj. Troy L. Gilbert is listed as "duty status whereabouts unknown," but the military believes he was unable to eject and died in the crash. It was several hours before U.S. forces could secure the crash site about 12 miles northwest of Baghdad. They found the wreckage of the plane, an intact canopy and a tangled parachute harness. There was no sign of Gilbert.
"Immediately after the crash, we had fighters overhead as well as surveillance assets," said Brig. Gen. Stephen Hoog of the U.S. Air Force. "Those assets did observe insurgents in the vicinity of the crash site." If Gilbert had ejected, it would have automatically activated an emergency beacon with his position. The military said no beacon was activated. At the time of the crash, Gilbert was actively supporting coalition ground combat operations, Central Command said. The "whereabouts unknown" status of Gilbert is an interim designation that will remain until the DNA testing is complete, Central Command said.
