The pilot of the US Air Force fighter jet that crashed off the north-east coast of England has been found dead.
The F-15C Eagle fighter jet crashed into the North Sea near Middlesbrough, northeast England earlier today, prompting a massive search operation off the Yorkshire coastline near Flamborough Head.
The American jet, based at the 48th Fighter Wing, RAF Lakenheath, was reported to have been flying on a routine training mission when it went down.
"This is a tragic loss for the 48th Fighter Wing community, and our deepest condolences go out to the pilot's family and the 493rd Fighter Squadron," the squadron's official twitter feed said.
The name of the pilot will not be released until all next of kin have been notified, the squadron said.
The craft reportedly crashed at about 9.40am Monday, GMT.
The single-seater aircraft had reportedly been flying as part of a four-jet formation before it crashed in waters off the Yorkshire coastline.
Just over an hour before the crash, the RAF Lakenheath 48th Fighter Wing had posted a picture on Twitter of a trio of its jets flying in formation.
The account tweeted: "Ready to take on Monday like..."
It is not known when the picture was taken, or whether the jets photographed included the downed aircraft as the picture was posted by the Royal Air Force (RAF).
People responded to the tweet with messages sending wellwishes the Wing amid news of the crash this morning.
"Hope all turns out well and they are found quickly," wrote one.
The F15C, a single-seater air defence fighter, is a model of jet that has been used by the US Air Force since 1979.
RAF spokesman Martin Tinworth said the aircraft has an "exceptional flight safety record".
HM Coastguard said in a statement that it received reports of a plane "going down into the sea 74 nautical miles off Flamborough Head" on the Yorkshire coast.
"The HM Coastguard helicopter from Humberside has been sent along with Bridlington and Scarborough RNLI lifeboats," a spokesman said.
"Following a Mayday broadcast by HM Coastguard, other vessels nearby are heading to the area.
Last month an F-15C Eagle assigned to the 493rd Fighter Squadron conducted aerial operations over the North Sea.
The joint event, usually held quarterly between the RAF and US Air Forces stationed in the Britain, was the first to be conducted amid the coronavirus pandemic.
