Missing Swiss fighter jet located, pilot still missing

The remains of the Swiss air force F/A 18 fighter jet that went missing during a training exercise Monday afternoon have been found, though the pilot has yet to be located, the Swiss Federal Department of Defence reported Tuesday afternoon in a statement.

The wreckage was spotted in the suspected crash area around the Susten Pass in the Swiss Alps by one of the helicopters carrying out search and rescue operations.

The search for the pilot of the single-seat aircraft are ongoing, though access to the crash-site has been hampered by adverse weather conditions, the Federal Department indicated.

According to Swiss media reports, the aircraft was participating in a training mission with another jet in a thick layer of clouds when it went missing at about 4:30 p.m. local time (1430 GMT).

Four helicopters as well as ground-teams were redeployed in the early hours of Tuesday morning after operations were put on hold last night because of meteorological conditions.

Family members of the missing pilot have been notified of the situation.

Source : XINHUA