Missing Fighter Presumed Dead off Charleston Coast

**Update 11:50 p.m. Saturday**

SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. (AP) - Air Force officials say a missing fighter pilot likely instantly when his fighter jet
collided with another plan over the Atlantic Ocean.
Authorities on Saturday night called off the search for Capt. Nicholas Giglio (jeel-EE-oh), who has been missing since the Thursday night crash.
Air Force Col. Joe Guastella (GUHS'-tell-uh) says experts analyzed data from the second plane, which landed safely, and interviewed the surviving pilot to determine Giglio's fate.
The colonel says investigators think parts on the bottom of the second plane pierced into the canopy of Giglio's plane Thursday night as they collided over the Atlantic about 30 miles northeast of Charleston.
The airman's family was told a few hours before the announcement.
**Update 11:50 a.m. Saturday**
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - Aircraft and ships continue to search the Atlantic Ocean off the South Carolina coast for an F-16 fighter pilot whose jet collided with another aircraft during night training exercises.
Coast Guard Petty Officer Bobby Nash said Saturday the search for Capt. Nicholas Giglio has expanded to about 4,000 square miles and Coast Guard units from four states are involved.
Authorities said there were reports of an oil slick and debris after the crash, but no signals were received from emergency beacons on the plane or pilot.
The pilot of the other jet was able to land his damaged plane after the Thursday night collision. He was not injured and has returned to Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter.

Update 3:00 p.m.
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - The commander of the Air Force base home to a pilot missing since his F-16 collided with another jet off the South Carolina coast says the training exercise is familiar to the man.
Col. Joseph Guastella (GWAH'-stell-ah) said Friday that Capt. Nicholas Giglio flew the same training flight several nights before the Thursday accident. Guastella says the collision took place toward the end of the 80-minute mission, which is conducted two to five times a week.
Giglio has been a fighter pilot for 18 months. Officials said he has been at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter for a short time.
Searchers have discovered debris and an oil slick at sea. They say they are hopeful Giglio will be found, though there has not been a signal from tracking beacons.
Update 1:30 p.m.
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - Debris and an oil slick have been spotted in the Atlantic and the search has been expanded for an F-16 fighter pilot whose jet hit another fighter during training exercises off the South Carolina coast.
Capt. Michael McAllister of the Coast Guard in Charleston says the search area Friday is now about 1,300 square miles.
Coast Guard boats and planes, a Navy vessel, Air Force aircraft and law enforcement boats are searching for Capt. Nicholas Giglio of Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter.
Giglio was in one of two planes that collided Thursday evening about 40 miles off Folly Beach. The other pilot landed safely at Charleston Air Force Base.
McAllister said Giglio and his ejection seat would have had beacons, but no signal has been picked up.

Update 12:45 p.m.
At a media briefing Friday afternoon, the US Coast Guard said they are continuing their search for the missing F-16 pilot.

They say weather conditions are not favorable for their rescue mission. While searching, a storm system forced the Coast Guard to land a search helicopter for about 2 hours.

They are searching a 1,300 square miles area off Folly Beach.

Officials are still uncertain if the pilot ejected from the plane.

Coast Guard spokesperson Capt. Mike McAllister says equipment has not picked up the signal from location becons on the plane or the pilot's ejection seat.

There were signs of an oil slick on the water Thursday night, that may have come from the downed plane.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) - Crews continue to search Wednesday morning for an F-16 fighter pilot whose plane collided with another jet during night training exercises off Folly Beach.
Senior Master Sgt. Brad Fallin at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter says the collision occurred about 8:30 last night.
Fallin says an F-16 piloted by Capt. Lee Bryant landed at Charleston Air Force Base. Fallin says Bryant was examined at the base but was not hurt.
Crews are looking for the other pilot, Capt. Nicholas Giglio.
The pilots' hometowns and ages were not immediately available.
Fallin said he didn't know how much damage Bryant's plane sustained. Fallin said it was being examined as part of the investigation.
The Coast Guard was searching with a helicopter, a C-130 airplane and a cutter and two small boats.

WCSC-TV reported Friday morning the pilot of the missing F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft from the 20th Fighter Wing has been identified as Capt. Nicholas Giglio, according to a release from Shaw Air Force Base. The second F-16 was piloted by Capt. Lee Bryant.

View Larger Map