Congress closely watches Raptor probe

Wednesday, Dec. 22, 2004 | 9:05 a.m.

A House Government Reform Committee panel will be watching the outcome of investigations into Monday afternoon's crash of an F/A-22 Raptor at Nellis Air Force Base.

Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Conn, who leads the House National Security, Emerging Threats and International Relations subcommittee, said if the crash has any chance of slowing down the Raptor program or increasing its costs, it could be something his committee looks into after Congress starts a new session next month.

His subcommittee examines Defense Department weapons program, domestic preparedness, response capabilities and other national security issues.

The two runways at Nellis Air Force Base remain closed today because of the crash.

Officials at Nellis previously had planned to shut down flying operations today through Sunday for the Christmas holiday, a Nellis spokeswoman said.

An interim safety board of officers is investigating the crash, and on Tuesday morning interviewed the pilot, who ejected from the stealth fighter, officials said. Investigators were also examining the wreckage of the $133 million plane as they try to determine what caused the crash.

The pilot ejected from the plane seconds before it crashed during a takeoff about 3:45 p.m., officials said.

The crash prompted the Air Force to suspend flying of the Raptor at major bases including Nellis, Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., and Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

Four F-16s assigned to the Nellis-based Thunderbirds were forced to land at McCarran International Airport Monday evening, but they were able to return to the base Tuesday morning when the Air Force temporarily re-opened one of the runways for the Thunderbirds to land there.