As of 6 a.m. Wednesday, a search remains underway for an Airman who exited a C-130 aircraft November 5, 2019 over the Gulf of Mexico approximately 4 miles south of Hurlburt Field. The incident is ongoing and under investigation.
Search and recovery crews were immediately called to aid in locating the Airman from the 24th Special Operations Wing at Hurlburt Field at approximately 11:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Units participating in the efforts include:
– 24th Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field Air Force Base
– 1st Special Operations Wing, Hurlburt Field Air Force Base
– Coast Guard Air Station New Orleans MH-65 Dolphin Helicopter aircrew
– Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile HC-144 Ocean Sentry aircrew
– Coast Guard Aviation Training Center Mobile MH-60 Jayhawk aircrew
– Two Coast Guard Station Destin 45-foot Response Boat-Medium boat crews
– 96th Test Wing, Eglin Air Force Base
– U.S. Army 7th Special Forces Group, Duke Field
– Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office
– Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
24th Special Operations Wing Public Affairs
Water jumps can be a lot of fun, however just like any airborne operation are inherently dangerous. Here is hoping the airmen is found alive and well.
I tell people that serving in just about any capacity is inherently dangerous. People are killed in training accidents all of the time. Hopefully this isn’t one of those times. I know far more killed in training than in combat.
I was encouraged when I read his chute deployed, but man, that’s a long time in the water, even for the gulf. Keeping eyes on from a ship is hard enough. I can imagine how much harder from a C-130.
Wonder if he had an inflatable PFD on? Dye marker, strobe, any of that stuff? Doesn’t seem likely for a crewman.
You would hope he had B-7s or a PFD on (which should have been required), but that is a long time in the water. At least they had eyes on him treading water before losing sight. No telling if he had injuries though…hoping for the best.
Let’s hope we bring our boy back safe and sound.
They should issue compact water survival kits for all water jumps. Including some IR chem lights for a buzz saw. Maybe a tiny one person inflatable raft. I know there’s enough weight already, but it’s just a thought.
Here’s a thought. What if part of the parachute was double lined with a plug that’s air tight so you can turn the chute into a raft in case of an emergency? That’s a cool idea!
Ok boomer
I had a lot of hope when they said he went out at 1500 ft and his chute deployed. That should have been enough time to come to your senses and recover. My only thought was that I rarely did any work with a strobe or at least a flashlight in my pocket in ground operations. I have trouble imagining an air crew without that type of preparation. I’d have thought that was pretty basic for those guys.