Tyndall Air Force Base officials said they lost contact with an F-16 fighter jet and are going forward under the assumption that it crashed into the Gulf of Mexico, according to reports.
The jet's pilot was conducting a routine training mission about 70 miles south of the Florida air base at the time, according to the Panama City News Herald.
'The rescue of our airman is our top priority,' Col. Mark O'Laughlin, Vice Commander of the 325th Fighter Wing, said in a statement. 'We want to assure the family and friends of the missing pilot that we are doing everything we can for this effort.'
Officials at the air base about 110 miles west of Tallahassee, Florida, have dispatched crews to the last known location of the plane, Airman Dustin Mullen told the Daily News.
As of Thursday afternoon, Mullen said he did not have information about the pilot or how many people are on board.
'We are still assessing the situation at this time,' he said.
This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
rblidner@nydailynews.com
Posted by Unknown on Thursday, November 6, 2014 - Rating: 4.5
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