An Air Force pilot was killed and two injured Friday in a deadly “aircraft explosion” at a base in Texas.
According to the Air Force, two T-38s were involved in a crash that occurred on the runway around 10 a.m. Friday at Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas, located east of the border city of Del. Rio.
Pilot died was determined on Sunday as 2nd Lieutenant Anthony D Wentz. Wentz, 23, is a student pilot from Falcon, Colorado with the 47th Student Squadron.
“A loss like this affects all of us, but one thing we never fail to do in times of crisis is unite, support each other, and respond,” said the colonel and commander. Wing coach Craig Prather said in a statement. “Our focus remains on supporting the families involved and our thoughts and prayers continue to be with them and our teammates today.”
Officials said one of the injured pilots was taken to a local hospital in Del Rio, where they were treated and later released on Friday. The other injured pilot was airlifted to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio and is in critical condition as of Friday.
USA TODAY has contacted Flight Training Wing 47 for additional updates.
Prather said: “Our hearts, thoughts and prayers are with our pilots involved in this crash and their families.
The 47th Flight Training Victory has served as a “college pilot training course” for the United States Air Force, the Air Force Reserve, and the National Air Force. According to the Air Force, the T-38 is a “supersonic, high-altitude jet trainer” primarily used for advanced pilot training. The plane needs a runway of at least 2,300 feet to take off and can reach speeds of up to 812 mph.
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