U.S. fighter jet crashes off English coast, pilot found dead

British coastguards have located the wreckage of a U.S. fighter plane that crashed into the North Sea on Monday, the pilot has been found dead, the U.S. Air Force said in a statement. 

The F-15C Eagle from the 48th Fighter Wing, which was on a routine training mission, crashed off the coast of northeast England at around 0940 local time (0840 GMT). Only the pilot was on board.

The fighter pilot has been identified as 1st Lt. Kenneth Allen, the U.S. Air Force said Tuesday.

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Allen, 27, was from northern Utah. He had been based with the 48th Fighter Wing at the Royal Air Force’s Lakenheath base since February of this year. He was the assistant chief of weapons and tactics for the 493rd Fighter Squadron.

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of Lt. Allen, and mourn with his family and his fellow Reapers in the 493rd Fighter Squadron," said Col. Will Marshall, 48th Fighter Wing commander. "The tremendous outpouring of love and support from our communities has been a ray of light in this time of darkness.’’

Allen is survived by his wife and his parents.