One pilot dead after military spy plane crash in central California
A Cold War-era spy plane nicknamed “Dragon Lady” has crashed in central California during a training flight, sparking a wildfire. Both pilots have ejected, but the US Air Force confirmed one was killed.
The U-2 spy plane went down in Sutter County, approximately 45 miles north of the state capital of Sacramento, local media reported.
A U2 trainer plane has crashed on the south side of the Sutter Buttes in Yuba County. Eyewitnesses say both pilots ejected from the plane
— KPAYBacaSports (@KPAYBacaSports) September 20, 2016
The US Air Force has confirmed the crash, and later in the day said one of the pilots had died, while the other was injured.
We can confirm a U-2 from @9thRW Beale AFB has gone down in Sutter County, CA; 2 pilots have ejected; details to follow when available
— USAF Pressdesk (@usafpressdesk) September 20, 2016
The plane took off from Beale Air Force Base, some 18 miles east of Yuba City, and home of the Air Force's 9th Reconnaissance Wing.
Pic from U2 smoke plume pic.twitter.com/Bp19LTmeHS
— Michael R Seko (@mikeseko) September 20, 2016
It was a training flight involving a student pilot and an instructor, one local news source reported. It is unclear which one was killed.
A U2 military aircraft based at #bealeafb went down off Pass rd near Sutter Buttes Both pilots ejected says Sutter Co Undersheriff Pierce
— Monica Vaughan (@MonicaLVaughan) September 20, 2016
Flown by the CIA during the heyday of the Cold War, the Lockheed-built U-2 was used for high-altitude surveillance missions. One of the planes was shot down over the Soviet Union in 1960, and another one over Cuba during the 1962 missile crisis.
Sources tell us a U2B trainer crashed. They say both an instructor pilot and student pilot were on plane and both ejected safely
— KPAYBacaSports (@KPAYBacaSports) September 20, 2016
