Two South Carolina Air National Guard fighter jets collided and crashed over a bombing range in Jefferson County, Georgia, Tuesday night, while on a training mission.
Both pilots ejected safely and were returned to McEntire Joint National Guard Base to be debriefed as part of the crash investigation. Jefferson County Fire Chief Jim Anderson confirmed there were no injuries on the ground as a result of the crash, and said the area where the planes came down is a very rural section of the county.
Anderson said crews have located the wreckage of one of the F-16C fighter jets in some woods, and they expect to locate the other jet nearby. One of the two pilots was found in a pasture after he ejected, the other was found in some woods.
McEntire’s Base Commander Col. Nicholas Gentile, said the planes were among six F-16s training for an upcoming deployment. Gentile said the two pilots are two of the most experienced flyers in the unit. He said he cannot yet release the names of the pilots, however.
The planes crashed at the Bulldog Military Operations Area southwest of Augusta.
