The Air Force has identified the instructor pilot who was killed in a T-38 Talon crash on Monday, which led to a temporary suspension of flights from Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas.
Capt. Paul J. Barbour, 32, was the air crew flight equipment flight commander with the 47th Operations Support Squadron when the plane went down about 14 miles northwest of Laughlin around 4 p.m. Monday.
Another officer, Capt. Joshua Hammervold, was injured and transported to Val Verde Regional Medical Center. He was released on Tuesday. Hammervold is an instructor pilot with the 87th Flying Training Squadron.
After the crash, Laughlin suspended all T-38 flights until after the Thanksgiving weekend. The Air Force is investigating the cause of the crash.
“Tragic events like this are difficult for everyone — family, friends, co-workers, supervisors and our entire Air Force,” said Col. Charlie Velino, 47th Flying Training Wing commander. “Every day, our pilots take a risk as they step into the cockpit, and every day they operate with the utmost skill, professionalism and dedication to train the next generation of flying airmen and to ensure the safety of this great nation.
“Rest assured, we are doing everything we can to support the investigation and prevent future incidents,” Velino said.
