JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — The Air Force has scheduled a memorial service today for an F-22 pilot who was apparently killed when his plane crashed 100 miles north of Anchorage.
Capt. Jeffrey Haney’s remains have not been found, but the Air Force says evidence at the remote crash site indicates he could not have survived. Part of the fighter jet’s ejection seat was found at the site, which means Haney, of Clarklake, Mich., never ejected, Col. Jack McMullen said Friday.
Haney was on a nighttime training mission at the time of the crash Tuesday.
At the request of his family, the memorial service will be open to personnel from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and some of Haney’s friends, but not the general public or news organizations, the base said in a news release Saturday.
Tributes poured in from the state’s politicians.
“Capt. Haney paid the ultimate sacrifice in the service of our country and we as a nation are forever in his debt,” said Republican U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski.
“I extend to Captain Haney’s family my most heartfelt sympathies and prayers as they mourn his loss.”
“He will be remembered for his untiring dedication and service to our country,” said Gov. Sean Parnell. “Capt. Haney reminds all of us of the sacrifice our men and women in uniform make each day to keep us safe.”
Haney was married with two children. Officials said he joined the Air Force in 2003 and has been at the Anchorage base for 4 1/2 years.
His jet and a second F-22 practiced “intercepts” and were nearing completion of the exercise when his aircraft disappeared from ground radar tracking and from communications with the other F-22 at 7:40 p.m. Tuesday. McMullen said the plane’s transponder was acting normally and stopped transponding when the jet crashed.
The family asked that in lieu of gifts or flowers, donations be made to the college fund of Haney’s two daughters via www.airwarriorcourage.org.
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