2 dead in Tennessee training plane crash, U.S. Navy confirms
TELLICO PLAINS, Tenn. -- U.S. Navy officials say an instructor and a student pilot have died in a plane crash in southeastern Tennessee.
The T-45 Goshawk training jet crashed during low level training on Sunday afternoon in Tellico Plains, about 45 miles southwest of Knoxville.
The T-45 Goshawk is a tandem-seat, carrier capable, jet trainer whose mission is to train Navy and Marine Corps pilots, according to the U.S. Navy fact file online.
Lt. Liz Feaster said Monday that the names of the two who died are being withheld until 24 hours after family members are notified.
Monroe County Emergency Management Director David Chambers estimates that the crash in the Cherokee National Forest left a debris field at least a half-mile long. CBS affiliate WVLT-TV reports investigators kept civilians three miles away from the crash site because the jet had explosives in it.
The plane was based at Naval Air Station Meridian in Mississippi, part of one of five naval air training wings.
Sources tell CBS News that Vice President Mike Pence's son is in flight training at Meridian, but he was not on the plane that crashed.
The Navy is investigating the cause of the crash.