{"id":20016,"date":"2016-09-20T18:42:52","date_gmt":"2016-09-20T18:42:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2016\/09\/20\/one-of-two-u-2-pilots-dead-in-california-crash\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T20:33:52","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T20:33:52","slug":"one-of-two-u-2-pilots-dead-in-california-crash","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/global\/the-americas\/2016\/09\/20\/one-of-two-u-2-pilots-dead-in-california-crash\/","title":{"rendered":"One of two U-2 pilots dead in California crash"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

One pilot is dead and a second injured after a U-2 Dragon Lady spy plane crashed on Tuesday in California, the Air Force announced.\u00a0The plane was from the 9th Reconnaissance Wing at Beale Air Force Base in California.\u00a0 Air Force Times has learned that the pilot killed was a lieutenant colonel. The injured pilot is a captain who was taking the flying portion of the interview to become a U-2 pilot. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Smoke rises from the wreckage of a U.S. Air Force U-2 spy plane that crashed in the Sutter Butte mountains, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, near Yuba City, Calif. The plane had just taken off on a training mission from nearby Beale Air Force Base. The two pilots ejected before the crash. (AP Photo\/Rich Pedroncelli)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Smoke rises from the wreckage of a U.S. Air Force U-2 spy plane that crashed in the Sutter Butte mountains, Tuesday, Sept. 20, 2016, near Yuba City, Calif. The plane had just taken off on a training mission from nearby Beale Air Force Base. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Photo Credit: Rich Pedroncelli\/AP<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Los Angeles Times first reported<\/a> on Tuesday that one of the two pilots was killed. A spokesman for the 9th Reconnaissance Wing confirmed that one of the pilots had been killed. The pilot’s name has not yet been released pending next of kin notification. The other pilot is being treated for injuries, the extent of which were not immediately known. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

At 12:17 Eastern Time, \u00a0Air Combat Command initially tweeted that both pilots had “safely ejected” and were awaiting recovery after the plane crashed an unpopulated area. Then at 3:02 p.m., ACC tweeted that it lacked “confirmation of status of U-2 pilots” following the crash.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U-2 is one of the Air Force’s most venerable reconnaissance planes, known for its high-flying and its track record during the Cold War. It regularly reaches altitudes of more than 70,000 feet, and its pilots wear pressure suits similar to those worn by astronauts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is usually a single-seat airplane. But among the Air Force’s inventory of 33 U-2s are five dual-seat models used as trainers. Since the Air Force said two pilots ejected from the crashed plane, that suggests it was one of the trainers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to U-2s, the 9th has RQ-4 Global Hawks, T-38 Talons and MC-12 Liberty surveillance aircraft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Correction of initial report: there is no official confirmation of status of U-2 pilots following crash in Calif. at this time. https:\/\/t.co\/nY27rqEooE<\/a><\/p>— Air Combat Command (@aircombatcmd) September 20, 2016<\/a><\/blockquote>