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Remains from F-16 crash site being DNA-tested

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WASHINGTON (CNN) -- The Pentagon on Wednesday identified a U.S. airman who is missing but presumed dead after his F-16 crashed near Baghdad on Monday. Maj. Troy L. Gilbert is listed as "duty status whereabouts unknown," but the military believes he was unable to eject and died in the crash.

It was several hours before U.S. forces could secure the crash site about 12 miles northwest of Baghdad. They found the wreckage of the plane, an intact canopy and a tangled parachute harness. There was no sign of Gilbert.

Video aired by the Al-Jazeera network, however, appeared to show a body. The U.S. military was able to collect DNA samples from the crash site. (Watch Iraqis gather around F-16 wreckage )

"Immediately after the crash, we had fighters overhead as well as surveillance assets," said Brig. Gen. Stephen Hoog of the U.S. Air Force. "Those assets did observe insurgents in the vicinity of the crash site."

If Gilbert had ejected, it would have automatically activated an emergency beacon with his position. The military said no beacon was activated.

"Our priority at this time is providing as much factual information and support as possible to the Gilbert family, while positively identifying the human remains found at the crash site," said Lt. Gen. Gary North, the U.S. Central Command Air Forces commander. "Our thoughts and prayers are with the Gilbert family."

At the time of the crash, Gilbert was actively supporting coalition ground combat operations, Central Command said.

The craft he was flying was deployed from Cannon Air Force Base in New Mexico.

The "whereabouts unknown" status of Gilbert is an interim designation that will remain until the DNA testing is complete, Central Command said.

DNA identification "is performed at a military medical facility in the United States" with "state-of-the-art technology and techniques available to positively identify the remains of military members," it said.

Gilbert's family issued a statement Wednesday praising him as a husband, father and military officer and noting that at the time of the crash, he was protecting the lives of other service members.

"Troy was first and foremost a wonderful husband and father, whose Christian faith, personal values and work ethic guided his personal life and his career as a military officer," said the statement, read to reporters during a news conference at Luke Air Force Base, Arizona, where Gilbert was based. "He was highly respected and deeply loved by so many.

"At the time of the tragedy during combat operations, he was unselfishly protecting the lives of other American military members. We, his family, cherish the worldwide prayers and support during this extremely difficult time."

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