F-15 fighter jet crashes in Indiana

Pilot reported safe, no word of injuries on ground in town of Vincennes

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updated 12:45 p.m. ET May 30, 2007

VINCENNES, Ind. - An F-15 fighter jet crashed in this southwestern Indiana city on Wednesday, authorities said. The pilot parachuted safely, they said, but it wasn’t immediately clear if there were injuries or damage on the ground.

Knox County Sheriff Officer Shawn Brown said the military jet crashed on Vincennes’ south side and the pilot had parachuted to safety. He said officers were securing a 100-yard radius around the crash site, but wasn’t sure if there were homes or people nearby.

“It’s an F-15,” Brown said. “They’re out there right now checking the scene.”

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Tony Molinaro, a Federal Aviation Administration spokesman said the agency received reports of a jet down and referred questions to the military. An Air National Guard spokesman was not immediately available for comment.

Jan Emge, a switchboard operator at Indiana State Police post in nearby Evansville, confirmed the crash but had no details.

Three years ago, two F-16 fighter jets from the 181st Fighter Wing collided during routine training near the Indiana-Illinois state line. One of the pilots was killed, and the second parachuted to safety. In July 2001, an F-16 from the same fighter wing crashed near Parkersburg, Ill., about 70 miles southwest of Terre Haute; the pilot ejected safely.