U.S. Jet Fighter Crashes Off Sumatra, Pilot Safe

[stevedeshazer]

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. Marine Corps Harrier fighter jet crashed into the Indian Ocean off the west coast of Sumatra on Thursday but the pilot was rescued by a helicopter and sustained only minor injuries, the military said.

The jet, which was on a routine training mission, was based aboard the Navy helicopter carrier USS Bonhomme Richard. The ship is among about two dozen U.S. military vessels taking part in tsunami aid efforts in the region.

The cause of the crash of the AV-8B fighter about 45 miles west of Sumatra was being investigated.

It was the second crash this week of a U.S. military aircraft based on one of the ships providing relief support to millions of victims of the Dec. 26 tsunami.

MORE: http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=7318857

[GregD]

1. Tough day for the taxpayers

Just a few minutes ago, this article appeared:
"Black Hawk crash in Colombia kills 20"

Besides losing people, that's a couple expensive aircraft that need to be replaced.

[Demeter]

2. Why, In God's Name, Is This Happening?

What MORON would schedule training flights over a nation that has just endured a catclysmic natural disaster, already hates the West in general and the Muslim-killing US in particular, and is in the midst of unsettled political strife?

But then, the answer is obvious.

[IndianaGreen]

3. What role could a jet fighter possibly play in tsunami aid?

Or are our troops engaged in something more than humanitarian assistance in Aceh province?

[Xithras]

9. Water filtration

Aircraft carriers have seawater purification equipment onboard capable of converting several hundred thousand gallons of sea water to drinkable fresh water per day. They're loading that water into bladders and barrels and taking it into the devastated areas via chopper.

[BlueStateGirl]

10. No. A routine training mission is that. The pilots and the planes have

to fly a certain amount of hours. So, even though the ship is helping out with tsumani relief, it's aricraft pilots till need to fly.

[daleo]

4. A jet fighter on a routine test flight during rescue mission?

Is that really smart? What's a Harrier going to do, deliver a few bushels of rice at 800 miles per hour?

[IndianaGreen]

5. More likely it was bombing the Aceh separatist rebels

Last Update: Wednesday, January 5, 2005. 11:25pm (AEDT)

Aceh rebels deny attacking relief convoys

Separatist rebels in Indonesia's tsunami ravaged Aceh province have denied military claims they have attacked humanitarian relief convoys.

An unnamed district commander says rebels on the ground are obeying an order from their exiled leadership in Sweden for a unilateral cease-fire to allow relief efforts to proceed.

He says the rebels have been deeply affected by the disaster and have lost many relatives.

He says they welcome the international help.

The military in Indonesia said on Sunday it had killed three rebels who had tried to ambush a convoy of military trucks that were carrying disaster relief supplies.

http://abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200501/s1277166.htm

[stevedeshazer]

14. Thanks for that link

I had no idea.

Just when you think things can't get much worse...they do. :(

[DemoTex]

6. AV-8B Harrier, aka "Widow Maker."

aka "The Converter" .. it converts fuel into noise.

[Blue_Tires]

17. lol

i actually didn't know we were still using those

[Redstone]

7. Don't get too worked up about this...

If the ship is going to be there for several weeks, there's no reason to let the pilots get rusty by putting off routine training flights.

Especially in a Harrier; those things are a bitch enough to fly even with constant practice.

Let's not make a big deal about nothing, folks.

Redstone

[daleo]

13. It would make sense to lay off the training for a while.

If that is what it is. This is a time when diplomacy should take precedence. This area of the world is bound to be sensitive to flyovers, and it will only feed suspicions that the military has a hidden agenda in the relief effort. A smart commander in chief (i.e. president) would have made this clear to local commanders, in my opinion.

[tx_dem41]

8. These are routine training flights...

The aircraft carrier is there for awhile. The pilots need to keep training and flying.

[Tacos al Carbon]

11. Amen

It's a terrible shame. Since the pilot wasn't killed it isn't a tragedy. What it really isn't is a glimpse into some conspiracy. Sheesh. Some people here could read a story about puppies and kittens and see a PNAC-Bushco-ASPCA global domination plot.

[Spinzonner]

12. Do you know there isn't one ?

:tinfoilhat:

[Tacos al Carbon]

15. I've always had my suspicions about the ASPCA

I mean, what if those microchips they implanted into my cats are for more than locating them if they get lost?

[tx_dem41]

16. Ohhhh nooooo! I never thought of that. Fluffy's not gonna like this...

:scared:





;-)

[Stella_Artois]

18. Regulations

IIRC, they need to fly at least once every 14 days in order to keep their flight status.

Otherwise, they need to retake some training course.

It really isn't some dark conspiracy.