UPDATE: Pilot identified in fatal F-16 crash in Michigan
The pilot who died after his F-16 fighter jet crashed earlier this week has been identified.
On Friday, the Wisconsin National Guard said Capt. Durwood “Hawk” Jones, 37, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, died when his aircraft crashed in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula while on a training mission.
The 115th FW identified Capt. Durwood “Hawk” Jones, 37, of Albuquerque, NM, as the pilot who lost his life in an F-16 crash this week.
— WisconsinGuard (@WI_Guard) December 11, 2020
Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. The #WisconsinNationalGuard family mourns the loss of this fine Airman. #115thFWStrong pic.twitter.com/LkJFvSrhIC
Rescuers searched Wednesday and Thursday for the pilot, who was the only person aboard, authorities said.
The death was confirmed by the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing, WKOW reported.
The plane assigned to the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing at Truax Field Air National Guard Base in Madison crashed about 8 p.m. Tuesday, the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs said in a statement.
The cause of the crash wasn’t immediately known.
The statement didn’t specify where in the Upper Peninsula the plane crashed, but WLUC-TV reported it was in the Hiawatha National Forest near the Delta-Schoolcraft county line.
An F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the Wisconsin Air National Guard's 115th Fighter Wing at Truax Field Air National...
Posted by Wisconsin National Guard on Tuesday, December 8, 2020
“At the time of the incident, the aircraft was on a routine training mission with one pilot on board,” the Wisconsin Air National Guard said in a statement released on its Facebook page. “Emergency responders are on scene. The cause of the crash, as well as the status of the pilot, are unknown at this time, and the incident is under investigation.”
According to media reports and unconfirmed police scanner traffic from emergency crews in the area, authorities had located a crash site and also had a broad area identified that could be the pilot’s ejection site.
About the Authors
Tim Darnell is an Atlanta native and veteran of several local, national, and international news, business and sports publications.
· Rich Barak works in the sports department as a leader/coach. In his career, Barak has covered everyone from Tommy Lasorda to Timothy Leary. He can be reached via email at Richard.Barak@ajc.com, on Twitter at @RBARACK or by calling 217-722-0184.
