F-22 Wreckage Found in Alaska, Pilot Missing

Updated at 11:41 p.m. ET

Searchers are holding out hope, but have found no sign of the pilot of an Air Force F-22 fighter jet that crashed in a remote area of interior Alaska.

The jet was nearing the end of a training mission Tuesday night when ground radar lost track of it. Rescue aircraft spotted the wreckage Wednesday morning, and a helicopter was able to land at the crash site in the afternoon.

Alaska National Guard spokesman Maj. Guy Hayes says pararescuers found no sign of the pilot. Searchers are leaving the site for the night, but Hayes says an air search will continue, looking for a campfire, a parachute or ejection seat.

Pilots carry survival gear and are trained for Arctic conditions. The pilot's name has not been released.

The twin-engine F-22 Raptor entered service in the mid-2000s and arrived at Elmendorf in August 2007. It's far more maneuverable and stealthy than earlier jets and can cruise at more than 1 1/2 times the speed of sound without using its afterburner. Its top speed is confidential.

Congress last year stopped production of the plane, built by Lockheed Martin Corp., by eliminating $1.75 billion that would have added seven F-22s to the Air Force's fleet.

An F-22 crashed in March 2009 near Edwards Air Force Base in California, killing the pilot.

Air Force officials say the crash site is about 100 miles north of Anchorage, near Denali National Park.

[Tanker101955]

My hopes and parys go out to the family that they find this brave man alive and well . The fact that a 150 million dollar jet chrashed makes no scent to me . what is payed for any kind of plane now days a person should feel as safe as sitting at home in the recliner. Its nuts to think with all the tech. we have , it makes no scent that they have as many accident as they do . it could be worse , but it could be alot better to.

[ouchitatom]

To all of you who dont know now or ever will know the sweet sound of air support when you needed it thirty minutes before. I want you to know that the sound of incoming is likened to the cry of a new born and the first time you saw the face of the woman you would live with the rest of your life .For you christians remember when you got the call? I want you to know that some of you heartless people may have to never know that feeling and it is because they are on the way to a destination to stop someone or something from removing your right to post your silly heartless messages here!

[Empire--George--]

May I ask, what does close air support have to do with this crash ?

[InaVan]

Empire,

It sounds like he respects the pilot, the training, the aircraft and the mission.

[newsbarn]

Palin probably shot him, thinking he as a bear.

[TheKnowerseeker]

The pilot is probably hiding in the wilderness from his CO and the Air Force for crashing $150 mil. into the ground.

[TheKnowerseeker]

Seriously, though, I hope they find him (her?) and he's ok.

[michigan01]

It simply amazes me that people are so quick to jump to conclusions and not care about people. I personally don't know this pilot but my husband does and know his family and friends and they are devistated right now not knowing where he is or his fate. I, myself and many other people are praying that he is alive somewhere doing what he was trained to do. He was a good person and took his job very seriously in the Air Force and he was one of the best around. Accidents do happen, malfunctions happen but life is more important than money. So all you people complaining about the money lost because a jet went down, think twice about it and if it was your family member or friend in that jet that was training to protect our country and our lifestyle that we love so much. If you don't respect that then you should leave America and go somewhere else and live with people who are heartless and won't help you in your time of need!!

[InaVan]

Thank you. I know that before you step into an F-22, you are put through rigorous training in other aircraft. You also have to distinguish yourself when compared to all those that apply for the small number of slots. I can only guess that he is very competent and dedicated to his country, his mission and training.

[JustYourAverageReader]

To all you Jerry-Springer-Guest wannabees who show no compassion for this pilot, family and friends, please pack up and leave the USA. I will help pay for your trip. N. Korea would be happy to have you.

[michigan01]

He was training to defend our country not just driving a car on the highway you idiot. You get your a55 in jet fighter and see if you can handle it!! We you have done it let me know and I will come shake your hand!!

[JustYourAverageReader]

Ms_enza has nothing better to do than find bad in every comment. Forgive her self-loathing.

[notohp2002]

Did the wings fall off, or was it pilot error? He must have parachuted, but to where? But from what I have read about fighter crashes, most likely the engine failed. And when an engine fails in a mach+ jet, which is not designed to glide, it falls out of the sky like a wounded sparrow.

[AOCGUY]

notohp2002, The F-22 is a duel engine aircraft so even if one engine failed that would not result in the loss of the aircraft. The USAF accident investigation board will determine actual cause so speculation now is just that. Since the pilot does not appear to be at the crash site it is a pretty could bet that the egress system was used but where is a question that again the accident investigation board will determine. Recovering the in-flight recorder amy clear that up.

And reality checker, the F-22 is a multi-role fighter. And while you are right the the traditional "dog-fight" is obsolete, air superiority/supremacy is not. Now we just kill them 50 miles out with Air-Air missiles. Guns are only used for surface attack (i.e. CAS).

[Reality-Checker]

I sure hope the pilot is found alive. Planes can be replaced much easier than pilots. The jazzy performance figures for the plane don't amount to a hill of beans when a plane is too hot to fly or recover from even a brief loss of control. F-16's were dropping out of the sky and auguring in when pilots passed out during maneuvers of 3 G's or greater. The Obama Administration was wise to cancel the F-22 production in favor the pilot-less aircraft. The Air Force Dog-Fighter is obsolete. Only Marine and Army aircraft have valid tactical usefulness.

[Empire--George--]

The air-force dog fighter is NOT obsolete.....there is always a need for air-superiority during land and sea warfare. Yes, the distances between opposing aircraft are far, but we still have a need to protect our forces, by dominating the skys with aircaft such as the F-22.....We will need a number of these, if a conflict with China arises in the future.

[AOCGUY]

rwsmith29456 - You are right. These pitiful excuses for Americans forget that one of our best may be injured or dead. In the meantime the pilots family and friends can only pray.

[Empire--George--]

AOCGUY, agreed. While I hope the pilot "survived", I am also happy that the pilot and aircraft didn't defect to Russia, given the recent launch of their own steath fighter, the Sukhoi T-50. The Russians would pay good money to get a hold of a working F-22. Was this a real possibility or just my imagination ?

[rwsmith29456]

Nobody seems to care about the pilot.