BEIJING, Feb. 21 (Xinhuanet) -- Two U.S. Air Force F-15C fighter jets collided in midair over the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday, but the two fliers ejected and were rescued, media reported.
The crash happened Wednesday afternoon about 80 kilometers (50 miles) south of Tyndall Air Force Base in Panama City, Florida. Both pilots were alive, but Eglin Air Force Base spokeswoman Lois Walsh said she was unable to comment about their conditions.
The planes were from the Air Force's 33rd Fighter Wing based at Eglin Air Force Base, near Fort Walton Beach, Florida.
The cause of the collision was not immediately known, but the Air Force will investigate, said Col. Todd Harmer, commander of the 33rd Fighter Wing.
The Air Force grounded all of its F-15s -- nearly 700 -- after the catastrophic failure of an F-15C during a routine training flight in Missouri in November. The pilot safely ejected.
Most were back in service by January, but others were grounded indefinitely after defects were found.
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