Fate of military pilot unknown

Associated Press

DEERFIELD, Va.

An experienced pilot was missing Wednesday after the flier’s F-15 fighter jet crashed in the mountains of western Virginia, shaking residents but causing no injuries on the ground, military and law enforcement officials said.

The pilot of the single-seat jet was headed to New Orleans for radar installation as part of routine maintenance and reported an inflight emergency, then lost radio contact, authorities said. The pilot and jet are with the 104th Fighter Wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, officials there said.

It was unclear whether the pilot had ejected, and the plane had no munitions onboard, Col. James Keefe said at a news conference in Westfield, Mass., home of the fighter wing.

A massive rescue operation was underway in the rural area with rocky, steep terrain. More than 100 dozen local, state and federal officials as well as volunteers gathered at the Deerfield Volunteer Fire Department.