4 Die as U.S. Jet Crashes on W. German Training Flight

A U.S. Air Force warplane struck an apartment building and exploded in flames Thursday, killing four people, injuring at least 15 and destroying homes over more than a block.

The A-10 Thunderbolt II jet, designed to support ground forces and fight tanks, was carrying 1,000 rounds of 30-millimeter training ammunition when it crashed, an Air Force spokesman said.

Witnesses said the plane flew low over a school and hit the top floor of an apartment building about 1:30 p.m. At least six multifamily homes burned.

The pilot, identified as Capt. Michael P. Foster, 34, hometown unknown, was among those killed. Late Thursday, rescuers were still searching the rubble for victims.

Opposition political parties called for a ban on low-level flights and sharp cuts in air exercises, and Maj. Gen. Marcus A. Anderson, commander of the U.S. 3rd Air Force, told reporters at the scene that all tactical training flights will be suspended until next Tuesday.

The 3rd Air Force is based at the Royal Air Force base at Mildenhall, England, and the Thunderbolt was based at the 81st Tactical Fighter Wing at the Royal Air Force base in Bentwaters, England. The plane was temporarily assigned to the West German air force base at Norvenich for training.

U.S. Air Force Col. William Blaesing said the plane “was taking part in exercises at the time of the accident, but this was not a low flying practice; they were just flying over.” The cause of the accident was under investigation.

The crash is likely to increase opposition to low-level military training flights over West Germany. That opposition grew in August when Italian stunt planes collided and crashed into a crowd of spectators at an air show at the U.S. Air Base in Ramstein, killing 70 people.

Since March 31, there have been 12 military air crashes in West Germany.