Americans name pilots feared dead in Highlands

A senior American air force officer is one of two pilots feared killed in a crash in the Scottish Highlands.

Lieutenant Colonel Kenneth Hyvonen was flying one of two F-15 fighter jets which vanishedwhile taking part in a training exercise.

The second pilot was named as Captain Kirk Jones. They were both based at the United States Air Force base at Lakenheath, Suffolk.

Neither Lt Col Hyvonen, who held a rank equivalent to an RAF wing commander, nor the second pilot, Capt Jones, have been heard from since radar and radio operators lost touch with the multi-million pound planes at around 1pm on Monday.

Rescue teams earlier said they had found a body and wreckage from an F-15 near the summit of 4,300ft (1,309m) Ben Macdui, Britain's second-highest mountain.

Officials at Lakenheath would not say if the body or the wreckage had been identified - but they said the families of the pilots were being kept informed of all developments.

Base commander Col John Brennan has paid tribute to both pilots, saying Lt Col Hyvonen was a highly experienced airman who had been in the USAF for 17 years.

"He was a very skilled and highly experienced pilot," said Col Brennan. "Both were experienced. Both well qualified for the mission."

Col Brennan added: "I have spoken directly to both families and they are taking it as best they can. It is obviously difficult."

Lt Col Hyvonen was a member of the 48th Operations Support Squadron and had been at Lakenheath since 1999. Capt Jones, a member of the 493rd Fighter Squadron, had been in the air force since 1997.