BLAZE Team responds to aircraft accident

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Jacob Corbin
  • 14th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs
COLUMBUS AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  The constant training and planning each Airman at Columbus Air Force Base takes part in came to fruition around 6 p.m. last Thursday night, when a T-6 Texan crashed.

The pilot, whose name and country of origin are being withheld at the request of their countries embassy, ejected and landed safely with only a few minor injuries to show for it.

Col. Roger Watkins, 14th Flying Training Wing commander, said incidents like the crash are why the BLAZE Team trains and prepares, and that they did a superb job in responding.

Colonel Watkins said while the loss of an aircraft is a significant loss, he is glad the pilot is safe and that is the most important part of it.

Numerous agencies from across Columbus AFB responded to the event, ranging from 14th Security Forces Airmen and the Columbus AFB Fire Department, the Judge Advocate's office and of course 14th FTW Safety.

Representatives from each agency stayed busy over the next few days, and revolving shifts arrived at the crash site to relieve their counterparts.

In addition to the BLAZE Team, members of the Webster County Sheriff's office, Webster County Constable, Mantee, Maben, Cumberland and Mathiston Volunteer Fire Departments, the Golden Triangle Regional Response Team, City of Columbus Fire Department and volunteers from the local Civil Air Patrol joined in the response effort.

At the time of the accident, the T-6 aircraft was conducting flight training operations and had one student pilot on board.
An investigation board has been convened to investigate the accident.