The Latest: Air Force identifies Thunderbirds pilot who died | iNFOnews | Thompson-Okanagan's News Source
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The Latest: Air Force identifies Thunderbirds pilot who died

FILE - In this June 18, 2010 file photo the U. S. Air Force Thunderbirds practice a maneuver during a rehearsal in preparation for a weekend air show, in Oklahoma City. The U.S. Air Force says a member of its Thunderbirds flight demonstration team was killed in the crash of his F-16 fighter jet in central Nevada. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki,File)
Original Publication Date April 05, 2018 - 12:51 PM

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. - The Latest on the crash of a military jet that killed a member of the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration team (all times local):

1:20 p.m.

The U.S. Air Force says the Thunderbirds flight demonstration team pilot who died in the crash of a military fighter jet in central Nevada was 34 and lived in Valencia, California.

Maj. Stephen Del Bagno (del BAG'-noh) was killed when his F-16 Fighting Falcon known as Thunderbird 4 crashed during a training flight Wednesday morning on the Nevada Test and Training Range.

Sgt. Stephanie Englar, a Thunderbirds spokeswoman, said that plans were being made Thursday for a memorial for Del Bagno. A date has not been specified.

A crash investigation is underway and the team's participation at an air show this weekend at March Air Reserve Base in California has been cancelled.

Officials have not said how the crash will affect the rest the 2018 Thunderbirds demonstration season.

____

12:30 p.m.

The U.S. Air Force has identified a member of the Thunderbirds flight demonstration team who died in the crash of a military fighter jet in central Nevada.

Maj. Stephen Del Bagno, was killed when his F-16 Fighting Falcon known as Thunderbird 4 crashed during a training flight Wednesday morning on the Nevada Test and Training Range.

Air Force 57th Wing Commander, Brig. Gen. Jeannie Leavitt, said Thursday that Del Bagno was an integral part of the flight team

An investigation is underway and the team's participation this weekend at an air show at March Air Reserve Base in California has been cancelled.

Officials have not said how the crash will affect the rest the 2018 Thunderbirds demonstration season.

____

6:55 a.m.

The U.S. Air Force says a member of its Thunderbirds flight demonstration team was killed in the crash of his F-16 fighter jet in central Nevada.

An Air Force statement Thursday says the jet went down around 10:30 a.m. Wednesday during a routine aerial demonstration training flight over the remote Nevada Test and Training Range.

The pilot's name is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

An investigation is underway and the Thunderbirds' appearance at March Air Reserve Base in California has been cancelled.

The Air Force says it's not known how the accident will impact the remainder of the 2018 Thunderbirds season.

The incident was the third U.S. military aircraft crash this week.

News from © The Associated Press, 2018
The Associated Press

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