Where plane crashed was ‘more by luck than judgement’

An aviation journalist has claimed that it was pure luck a stricken US military fighter plane missed homes and a village school, saying: “Once the pilot is out, the aircraft will fall wherever it falls”.

The F-15, which had been “dogfighting” above Weston Hills, crashed at around 3.15pm last Wednesday, in a field next to Broadgate.

An investigation into what caused the crash is now under way and so far there has been no official report out of RAF Lakenheath, where the plane was based.

But the writer, who does not wish to be named, claims reports that a wing of the aircraft landed away from the main crash site may suggest either structural failure or a mid-air collision.

He said: “The fact the wing was found well away from the crash site suggests it came adrift before it hit the ground.

“That could indicate a mid-air collision or possibly structural failure. The F-15 has suffered serious structural fatigue problems in the past.”