Deployed Strike Eagle from Mountain Home AFB crashes

An F-15E Strike Eagle deployed to Southwest Asia from Mountain Home Air Force Base crashed Thursday morning.

In a press statement from the base, the pilot and weapons systems officer safely ejected from the two-seat fighter prior to the crash and sustained unknown injuries.

"We are extremely grateful that our Gunfighters are safe," said Col. Bruce Smith, 366th Fighter Wing vice commander, in a prepared statement. "However, we are confident that this incident will be fully investigated."

The fighter was conducting a routine training mission prior to the accident. An Air Force spokesperson from U.S. Air Force Central Command emphasized that the crash was not attributed to any hostile fire or insurgent activity.

The cause of the incident remains under investigation with emergency responders currently on scene.

The incident marks the second crash involving a fighter from the local Air Force base in nearly a month. On March 28, Capt. Francis "Piston" Imlay from the 391st Fighter Squadron died from injuries he sustained after his aircraft crashed about 15 miles from a U.S. base in southwest Asia.

Strike Eagles are dual-role fighters capable of performing air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. Despite the recent aircraft mishaps, Mountain Home Air Force Base and the F-15E Strike Eagle have excellent safety records, base officials said.

More than 300 airmen from the local base are currently deployed to support F-15E overseas contingency missions designed to deliver combat air power for joint operations and to meet ground commander requirements.