A low-flying A-10 Thunderbolt II military jet collided with two protective cables above a major power transmission line crossing Stockton Lake Wednesday afternoon, and boaters are being kept away from the downed cables.
Danielle Johnston, spokeswoman with the Air Force Reserve’s 442nd Fighter Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, confirmed that two of the unit’s A-10 planes were flying when one hit the cables near the town of Bona.
Johnston confirmed the pilot was uninjured and returned safely to Whiteman. The pilot was on a local, low altitude, navigational-training mission and has been removed from flight status until an investigation is completed.
“The estimated damage to the aircraft is unknown at this time,” Johnston said in an email. “The event is under investigation in accordance with Air Force safety regulations.”
The Army Corp is working with the Missouri Highway Patrol’s water patrol division to mark the area with buoys to keep boaters away from submerged cables. Corps spokesman Dave Kolarik said the lines are owned by Vinita, Okla.,-based KAMO Electric Cooperative.
“Our role in this is fairly limited,” Kolarik said.
He said the jet hit and severed “static cables” above a set of three power lines that cross the lake. The static cables don’t carry power but help protect transmission lines from lightning and other hazards. Kolarik said electricity to the three transmission lines has been turned off while KAMO determines how to make repairs.
The jet clipped the lines where they cross the lake just south of the Highway 245 bridge on the southeast arm of Stockton Lake. A-10 Thunderbolts are single-seat, twin-engine attack jets designed to provide close support for ground troops.
Source: http://www.news-leader.com
Video: http://ozarksfirst.com
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