Published: Thursday, November 18, 2010, 1:19 PM Updated: Thursday, November 18, 2010, 1:59 PM
Danielle Salisbury | Jackson Citizen Patriot
The missing pilot of an Air Force F-22 fighter jet that crashed this week in a remote area of interior Alaska is Air Force Capt. Jeff A. Haney, whose parents live in Jackson County, the man Haney calls his stepdad confirmed today.
Mike Viane, who has lived with Haney's mother for more than 20 years, said Haney's mother, Linda, and father are now on a plane to Alaska, where they will join Haney's wife, Anna, and the couple's two young daughters.
The two left this morning and are to arrive before midnight tonight, he said from he and Linda Haney's home on Gillette Road west of Brooklyn.
Haney, 31, has been in the Air Force for about five years, Viane said. He graduated from Columbia Central High School in 1996 and went to flight school at Western Michigan University.
He did his first pilot training at the Jackson County Airport, Viane said.
Haney was one of the Air Force's best piolts, Viane said. "Top of the class, as they say."
He was supposed to eventually be an F-22 fighter jet instructor, Viane said.
Haney was stationed at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage. His wife and children lived off the base, Viane said.
Haney's Air Force F-22 Raptor went missing Tuesday night during a training mission from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. The fighter jet’s wreckage was discovered Wednesday.
The jet was on a nighttime training mission and lost contact with air traffic control at 7:40 p.m. local time Tuesday, according to a statement by the base. The F-22 was flying with another plane, which also lost contact with it, according to the Air National Guard.
The missing F-22 is assigned to Elmendorf’s 3rd Wing.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of this missing Airman, and we thank all Alaskans for their continued support and prayers during this trying time,” said Col. Jack McMullen, 3rd Wing commander, in a written statement. “Finding the missing pilot is our top priority.”
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