A rescue helicopter based in the Humber region and RNLI lifeboats from Scarborough and Bridlington have been deployed in the search for a US fighter jet which has crashed into the North Sea.

Image source, PA Media

In a statement, HM Coastguard said it received a report of a plane "going down into the sea" about 75 nautical miles (86 miles) off Flamborough Head.

It said that following a Mayday call other nearby vessels are heading to the area to help with the search.

The Us Airforce has said the F-15C jet, from RAF Lakenheath was on a training mission when the crash happened at about 09:40.

It said the pilot and jet have not yet been located.

Royal Air Force Lakenheath is a military base that is run and operated by the US Air Force.

Lakenheath had been solely used by the RAF during the 1939-45 conflict and was abandoned as an operational base at the end of the war.

The United States Air Force's 48th Bombardment Group, the forerunner of the 48th Fighter Wing, was relocated from Chaumaunt, France, to RAF Lakenheath in 1960 when the USAF took over the base.

It is home to thousands of US service men and women who are stationed there throughout the year.

Search and Rescue teams are looking for the crashed US fighter jet, which is believed to have crashed 74 nautical miles (137km) off the East Yorkshire coast.

A spokeswoman for HM Coastguard said: "The HM Coastguard helicopter from Humberside has been sent along with Bridlington and Scarborough RNLI lifeboats.

"Following a Mayday broadcast by HM Coastguard, other vessels nearby are heading to the area."

RAF Lakenheath's 48th fighter wing has tweeted, confirming news of the crash.

They say that a search and rescue effort is under way to find the pilot who was aboard the jet, which crashed into the North Sea at 09:40 BST.

The BBC's defence correspondent Jonathan Beale reports that the crashed fighter plane was one of four US jets flying in a formation when it crashed at 09:40 BST.

RAF Lakenheath say that the crashed fighter jet had been on a "routine training mission" at the time it was lost in the North Sea.

It is not yet known what caused the US Air Force F-15C Eagle aircraft to crash.

The crashed jet was a US Air Force F-15 fighter jet.

The aircraft was from the 48th fighter wing at RAF Lakenheath - an air base in Suffolk.

One pilot was on board when the jet crashed into the North Sea at 09:40 BST. Their status is reported as "unknown" and a search and rescue operation is under way.

A US Air Force pilot is missing after a fighter jet from RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk crashed into the North Sea.

We will bring you live updates on this story as it develops.

Live updates following the death of a pilot after a F-15C Eagle crashed into the North Sea.

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