Airman missing after falling from aircraft into Gulf of Mexico; search underway off Florida coast

An airman is missing after falling from a military aircraft into the Gulf of Mexico near Florida's Hurlburt Field, officials said Tuesday.

According to WEAR-TV and the Northwest Florida Daily News, the airman, a staff sergeant with the U.S. Air Force's 24th Special Operations Wing, fell from a C-130 during jump training just before 2 p.m. Tuesday. Witnesses said his parachute deployed as he fell. They later spotted him swimming in the water below, WEAR reported.

Crews with the U.S. Coast Guard, Air Force and Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission are participating in the search near Santa Rosa Island, WEAR reported.