Rescue center providing assistance to find downed F-16

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TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. (AFNS) --  Air Force Rescue Coordination Center officials here have dispatched two HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopters and an HC-130 from the 23rd Wing at Moody Air Force Base, Ga., in response to a collision of two F-16 Fighting Falcons from Shaw AFB, S.C., that collided in mid-air over the Atlantic Ocean Oct.15 during a night training mission.

The helicopters are manned by highly trained personnel and equipped with state-of-the-art navigation, communications and radar systems for the primary mission of search and rescue of downed pilots.

According to Shaw AFB officials, the pilot of the missing F-16 has been identified as Capt. Nicholas Giglio. The second F-16 pilot, Capt. Lee Bryant, was unharmed and was able to land safely at Charleston AFB, S.C.

"We are doing everything in our power to rescue our missing Airman," said Master Sgt. Paul Buzbee. "We're working closely with the U.S. Coast Guard who also has rescue assets on scene to comb the area and locate the missing pilot.  We have launched an aggressive and thorough interagency search-and-rescue force for this effort."

The cause of the crash is unknown and a board of officers will investigate the accident.