Air Force Pilot Likely Died Instantly

Search for Missing Pilot Following F-16 Collision Shifted to Recovery Effort

(AP)  An Air Force pilot likely died instantly when his F-16 fighter jet collided with another over the Atlantic Ocean, authorities said Saturday.

The search for Capt. Nicholas Giglio, who has been missing since Thursday night's crash, was shifted to a recovery effort looking for the plane's wreckage.

Investigators believe the bottom of the other jet struck the top of Giglio's fighter and pierced the pilot's canopy, Air Force Col. Joe Guastella said. The other pilot was not injured and was able to land his plane safely.

Investigators came to their conclusion using data gathered from the second plane and an interview with the other pilot. Also, radio beacons on the aircraft and the pilot were never activated, indicating Giglio never left the cockpit, Guastella said.

"He had no opportunity to eject from the aircraft," Guastella said.

The Coast Guard, which spent nearly two days looking for the pilot in 8,000 square miles of ocean about 40 nautical miles northeast of Charleston, has now shifted to trying to recover the jet, said Capt. Michael McAllister, director for the search.

The collision happened as Giglio and the second pilot, Capt. Lee Bryant, were in a night training exercise. The pilots had finished most of their maneuvers and were getting ready to head home when they hit, Guastella said.

The flight controls of Bryant's jet were miraculously not damaged, and he managed to land at Charleston Air Force Base without injury, Guastella said.

The two pilots were part of Shaw Air Force Base's 20th Fighter Wing commanded by Guastella. Giglio, originally from New Jersey, has been a fighter pilot for 18 months and is part of the 77th Fighter Squadron that is training for deployment to Iraq early next year. He took his first F-16 flight with Guastella, who was an instructor then.

"He is a patriot and a great American," said Guastella, who told Giglio's family about the investigators' findings a few hours before the public announcement.

Giglio, 32, leaves behind a wife, a young daughter and a baby on the way, Guastella said.

The 20th Fighter Wing hasn't flown since the collision and will likely remain grounded until Tuesday, its commander said.

Officials said after the crash that there were reports of debris and an oil slick in the water, but investigators haven't determined if that came from Giglio's jet. The water is about 50 feet deep in the area where the Air Force thinks the F-16 went down, McAllister said.

The Coast Guard used its helicopters and boats as well as private volunteers who helped in the search.

"If Capt. Giglio had ejected safely from the aircraft, we're confident we would have found him," McAllister said.

[AOCGUY]

stuart-johns2 - Not every news article should be about politics. Why couldn't you have just accepted that the loss of a young American pilot was tragic and leave it at that?

Sometimes we just have to leave our political beliefs at the door and just be Americans. It is so tiring having to to listen to the constant harangue of the right and left.

And by the way, being a vet doesn't give someone an edge on patriotism. You served, I served, lot's of people have served, but there are a lot of Americans for what ever reason never wore the uniform that are just as patriotic. Let's drop this crap about I fought for my country so I'm more patriotic than you - because it simply isn't true.

[stuart-johns2]

Well your point is well taken. Someone made a comment about more than just this pilots death and the whole thing sort of evolved from there. Many threads do that. I would'nt make too much of it really. But as I said, point well taken.

[stuart-johns2]

But also, in all fairness to myself, that's twice you came on this thread in the span of several hours and addressed my post instead of the tragic death of a pilot. It seems you are doing the very thing you accuse me of.

[liberalornot]

You can tell who the Democrats are. Read the Posts. The Story is about a dead pilot but the Democrats make it about "ME" and MY Agenda. Thats some Support for our military.

[curse914]

The best way to avoid dead pilots is to avoid war.

[edgy44]

The best way to avoid war is to kill yourself.

[stuart-johns2]

In another article on this site this week which asked the question, "Should America want to be popular in the world" I submitted the following. Perhaps this will help you understand where I am coming from.

by stuart-johns2 October 17, 2009 8:45 AM EDT

I think some of you are confusing "popularity" with "fear". ubrew wrote: "Anyone entering a room, who has the power to kill everyone in the room, is going to be popular," No. He is going to be feared and simply made to believe he is popular.

It's similar to the toughest bully in Middle School. Everyone wants to be his friend if for no other reason than they want to feel they have protection from the other bullies - that they are on the winning team, as it were. And in reality, they would be fools to want to be his enemy.

But they really don't trust him, they really don't respect him - they FEAR him. And it's not unusual that as the bullies friends grow and mature, that they move on in life and he/she (the bully) is left with few friends if any. Eventually, they may even turn on him, confront him.

If America wishes to be popular in the world, as it should, than it must discover a way to move forward in the world without appearing to patronize other nations; without seeming to "bully" other nations through coercive economic policy or military might. People just resent that and fear that for it displays their weaknesses, their vulnerabilities.

Having economic and military might is one thing, but it really is our culture minus these things that the world marvels at. It is the freedoms we have here that draws others. It is our committment to excellence and innovation that made us great to other nations and not so much our ability to war with other nations.

Indeed, America should desire popularity. Popularity can equal security. But on the other hand, a man of many friends comes to ruin.

Our foreign policy must reflect this balance.

So what I am saying is what I said in this thread. We must STOP equating America's "pride" with military might. We must STOP thinking our military industrial complex is the answer to all the world's woes.

I believe it is that concept that I was addressing.

[6591Hou]

stuart-johns2 - I agree that the pride of the United States should not be solely based upon military capability, or upon economic power and military capability.
Every nation, superpower or not, relies on a complicated and interdependant three-legged stool: culture, economy, military.
The culture determines the characteristics of the society and what it stands for, it is the image or face that the country presents to the world. Progressive, oppressive, or somewhere between, influences how the international community views and approcahes the nation.
The economy is simply the engine that drives the nation, how the engine is used is what helps further determine the culture. Does the citizenry live in poverty while the leadership lives in luxury?
The military capability is for both the defense of the nation and the defense of the nation's interests. If economic interests are threatened or disrupted, the economic engine may be in jeopardy. If the economic engine fails, the culture and nation both are in jeopardy.
Popularity of a nation is a hollow pursuit, nations who desire something will always seek to find a way to get it from a nation that has it - until they can find a way to make it themselves or find another source. A nation can be 'admired' for one aspect but ignored or condemned for others. It is too easy for a nation to be accused of 'bullying' or 'patronizing' from nations who feel that they should be entitled to more than what they have.
The problem with compromises is that both parties usually feel slightly dissatisfied with the deal they ended up with.
We should deal fairly with our international parties, but we should be prepared to protect our interests, and we should be consistent in both.

[stuart-johns2]

by 6591Hou October 18, 2009 11:24 AM EDT

I appreciate the encouragement and your open-mindedness and common sense. Some people can only look at issues with tunnel vision. They view matters through a lense of pre-concieved notions and/or simple bias. I try not to do that.

[lmartink]

This article was about a tragic accident, and a pilot who died. While I agree with the premise of your post, it does not belong here.

[stuart-johns2]

I think it's pretty simple to understand that my last sentence in my original post at by stuart-johns2 October 18, 2009 8:39 AM EDT
to wit: " He identifies the greatness of America with it's military might." is what I was taking issue with.

That does not mean that I do not value our military or callously minimize this pilots unfortunate death.

I am sorry that some have such a hard time understanding English.

[stuart-johns2]

by AOCGUY October 18, 2009 9:28 AM EDT
Stuart - I usually respect your opinion on this site if not always agree with it but your response to the death of a young American who chose to dedicate his life in defense of his country is disgusting.
================

My response was not about the fallen soldier. My response was that I disagree that our military is THE source of pride of this country. Can't you see that difference?

[stuart-johns2]

by Dgunner October 18, 2009 8:11 AM EDT
I want to let the family know that I hurt with them. The pride of the United States is and will always remain to be the brave fighting men and women of our armed forces.
================

Yes and there is MUCH much more that we can be proud of about this country. If you think "the pride of this country is and always will remain to be" the Armed Forces, you must be a republican.

True, our Armed Forces are A source of pride but you make it sound as if that is ALL that this country has to be proud about. You make it sound as if the armed forces IS America's ONLY source of pride.

You can always spot a republican war-monger. His source of pride IS the military. He identifies the greatness of America with it's military might.

[AOCGUY]

Stuart - I usually respect your opinion on this site if not always agree with it but your response to the death of a young American who chose to dedicate his life in defense of his country is disgusting.

[stuart-johns2]

As a Marine Corps combat veteran, I am anything but an "anti-American coward" you moron.

How did I "dance" (love your drama) in the blood of this fallen soldier. I was not addressing his loss at all. I did not say that the Military is NOT a source of pride. I know you republican extremists freaks are mentally challenged, but read my post. I was addressing the fact that this poster made it sound as if our military was THE source of pride in this country.

I think our national parks are also a source of pride. I think there are MANY things American has that are a source of pride.

And you are is just plain disgutingly inept at understanding simple concepts. Why? Because you are a militia minded mental midget.

My condolences to the family of course! My condolences to the families of all who have lost loved ones from service to our military or not.

Former Marine Corps Sgt.

Shove it neo.

[stuart-johns2]

I don't know. Something about this story just is'nt right.

[michellereducf]

Elaborate

[stuart-johns2]

Imagine.