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B-1 pilot: 'Aircraft was out of control'
By Jamie McIntyre WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The B-1B bomber that crashed into the Indian Ocean Wednesday experienced multiple system malfunctions making it "impossible" to fly, the plane's rescued pilot said Wednesday. The four crew members declared an emergency about 15 minutes before ejecting from an altitude of 15,000 feet as the plane approached the British base at Diego Garcia from about 60 miles to the north, said U.S. Air Force Capt. William Steele. The bomber crashed about 11:30 a.m. ET. "The aircraft was out of control and we all had to eject," he said. "We had multiple aircraft system malfunctions, which made it impossible for us to fly the aircraft." He said the problems were not a result of enemy fire. Steele and his three crew members were in the water for about two hours before being plucked to safety by sailors in an inflatable rescue boat dispatched by the destroyer USS Russell. They suffered only minor cuts and bruises.
He said he did not see any sharks or other potential dangers while in the water. "It was actually kind of comfortable. It was nice warm water," Steele said. A U.S. Air Force KC-10 refueling plane orbited the crash site, maintaining voice communication and visual contact with the B-1B crew. While in the water, Steele linked up with one of his colleagues, but he said he couldn't see his other two crew members. "I was thankful to see everybody once we did get picked up," Steele said. Navy Lt. Dan Manetzke said the four crew members were picked up about seven miles from the destroyer and that rescuers were delighted when they found the air crew. "They were just as happy to see us as we were to see them," Manetzke said. Steele disputed that point. "We were much happier to see them than they were to see us," he said with a laugh. More than 5.5 hours after they were rescued, the four crew members arrived at Diego Garcia where they underwent further medical evaluation, a U.S. military statement said. The statement said the crew is in good condition. Officials would not comment on the bomber's mission or destination. Steele would say only that it was participating in "a scheduled mission in support of Operation Enduring Freedom" and it was attempting to land at Diego Garcia. |
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