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Subscribe to RSSAn F-16 fighter jet went missing Monday after losing connection with its base in Italy around 8 p.m. local time, the U.S. Air Force said in a statement.
Pentagon officials confirm the plane, out on night operations training, is down in the Adriatic Sea, the body of water that separates the Italian peninsula from Croatia and Albania. The plane was assigned to the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base in Italy.
The pilot is missing, according to Pentagon officials.
Search efforts are underway, the Air Force said.
--Reporting by Jim Miklaszewski and Isolde Raftery of NBC News.
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I hope the pilot is found, soon, and safe.
My heart goes out to the family.
I've been there, and the seas can be unkind. Sincerely, I hope the pilot is found and recovered quickly and well. Perhaps, on a lighter side, he might just drift into a Venetian canal and enjoy a glass of vino before he goes back to base.
For all those who are naysayers about overseas bases, the Italians WANT us there. They do everything to help, and they are some of the nicest people in the world. Every city I visited in Italy had a WWII memorial dedicated to US servicemen, and EVERY SINGLE ONE of them was well kept and decorated with fresh flowers every day. I can tell you, we don't do that in our country for our very own countrymen. Even years after the 9/11 tragedy, the Venetians had a memorial in their main meeting square of the Pieta draped with an American flag and a sincere message of mourning for our loss regarding 9/11. And again, it was decorated daily. Aviano is a beautiful base, and Pordenone (main town next door) is a quaint and pleasant city. Our service people could do much worse on an overseas post.
Again, let's hope the missing pilot is found and returned safely home.
The Adriatic Sea looks small on the world map. But it is a huge area in which to lose a plane. I hope the pilot managed to eject and will be found safe and alive.
It's been so long now, shouldn't we have heard something by now? Where's the update?
We are praying for our pilot's safe return!!!
zapper: My brother is an F16 pilot, did the North Atlantic flyover during Op. Iraqi Freedom, so stories like this hit close to home. He's only a couple years left from being promoted out of the plane, but any time a pilot goes down, I immediately feel for the family and friends of the pilot. I can only imagine the fear and dread they feel, and hope for the safe return of the pilot.
Matt, my son was stationed there for several years. It's a lovely place. I sincerely hope the pilot is found well and unharmed. I have not heard any updates as of yet.
God be with you Sir. Aim High and land safe.
On the lighter side he was probably rammed by a navy sub.hope the pilot is savde
Matt and Lar
Most definitely agree.
Who cares about the metal? It's been 9 hours. Where's the pilot?
The more american losses, lesser the oppression for the rest of the world. (Phd. Vojislav Šešelj)
Why do we need an air force base in Italy? They are incapable of defending their own airspace? We worried about the Russians? Bring those troops home.
We have a virtual overseas empire of military bases. These bases are prohibitly costly and serve as a jump off point for interventionist politicans to stick their noses in other nations' affairs. We need to close them and focus on actual national defense.
It is a highly strategic location. Granted, I think it is unnecessary since we have a massive base in Germany. We need to close all European bases except the one in Germany. Close all Asian bases except South Korea. Cut defense spending ... along with Medicare/Medicaid.
Wow, I didn't know we had such well informed 'armchair' military experts here, lol. robtzu, flatiron, and uga(uga?) really know their stuff, hahahaha! Go back to bed now little boys before your mom catches you!
Mark, I wouldn't be surprised if they were formerly Barry and Hillary's advisors in the Benghazi coverup! Now demoted to nbcnews, lol!
UGA why cut the benefits for our elderly? they paid into it their whole lives? is that how you operate? tell someone something then when its time for you to hold up your end of the bargain, change your mind and do whatever fits you best? We need to take care of our elderly, not take more from them. Most are barely squeaking out an existence as it is.
Jim: crawl back under your rock.. this article is about a downed pilot, not a place to shoot your mouth off about whatever agenda you have.. Man .. So sick of the same crap from small minded people.. every freaking article.
Hope the pilot gets found safely, screw the plane we have 2000 more Being built as we speak...
here we go again(7.5), your concern for the downed pilot seemed more of an afterthought after your editorial criticising other posters... pot calling kettle black?
Not that it matters, but I am veteran. OIF. And yes, as a citizen I get to have a say on military policy. We dont just send them a blank check and say do whatever. I am tired of paying taxes so we can play world police and get resented by foreigners for our efforts.
It is people like BillT and his 11 likers that are wrong with this country. Lob ad hominems instead of engaging in civil discussion.
Hoo Boy, some brain dead uneducated leftist liberals are out on this one! We are talking solely about a missing American pilot who may be dead and some of you are trying to throw out your geo-political snide remarks on the presence of our military bases around the world and how we are oppressing people? Get real people and stay on topic!
Godspeed to the pilot. This base in italy is for what? The cold war is over!
Proximity to Libya and Tunesia maybe of concern in light of recent unrest in the region, perhaps.
There has got to one force for peace in the world, far reaching, coordinated and powerful. and it is America's force.
Beats letting a WW3 crack open and spread like cancer. Right now that risk is from the M.E. It's cheaper to prevent than to cure. There's always a cold war brewing.
I think the strategy is right, except I think the host countries should pay the bills.
Back to the story, I hope they find him safe and sound because he is an achieving man who works to protect our country somehow somewhere.
Hal
I agree. Let us not forget the proximity to the Baltic states as well.
may all warplanes everywhere fall out of the sky...
horrible thought Stockley, where's your compassion? An end to war everywhere would be a much better solution, don't you think?
I hope the pilot if found soon. You can't give enough props, or praise to the men and women that stand guard so we can be safe.
I hope the pilot if found soon. Much praise to the brave men and women who stand guard for US.
Prayers for a safe recovery.
Sounds like the Isolationists have returned. We hope he's found in safe condition.
All these polite comments just compared to what I read when an Iraqi or Afghani is similarly missing. I'm going to say something stupid and cruel just like most of you do when insulting Arabs, Iranians, Russians, Chinese and whoemever else this filthy zionist administration TELLS you to hate.and say :
What happened did we shoot it down USING A DRONE ? Did this guy take off to meet a chick someplace and finally followed his dick into oblivion ? Did he decide to just sell the plane and retire in a foreign country ?
Paranoid hateful comments right? This is what most of you do everyday TO OTHERS..... HOW do you like it when the tables turn?
You shouldn't be RUDE AGGRESSIVE and ARROGANT amerikans because what goes around comes around and most of you KNOW IT
Are you judging this man/woman for who he/she is or for the orders they follow? Love the person, hate the world we live in. It's obvious your not out here to make the world a better place!
Conrad, You are an IDIOT. I have read a couple of your posts. I hope to God you quit being a p$$$y hiding behind a computer. If you have balls than hit me up and I want to teach you a lesson or two. Douche bag.
Keep your flare on stand by brother, the navy is on the way.
With that said, your family know your safe.
To those of you who don't know, I will try to educate. My son is stationed at Aviano. Aviano Air Base is an ITALIAN air base. It is a NATO air base. We (the U.S.) are invited guests there. We conduct joint training operations with the Italians and other NATO countries. It is a vital base that NATO uses to support mideast operations and protect Europe. On-going training even in times of peace is vital to keeping our military the best in the world, and it is in the U.S. best interest to continue to do so. That is all that this pilot was doing. Training. If you don't know what you are talking about, do those of us who have sons and daughters in Service a favor and kindly keep your uneducated comments to yourselves.
Training to these Jihadist is reading a Koran, wondering why they die by the thousands on a battle field. We're not the best, just well trained. Which gives us the capability to adapt to our enemy!