Incident Overview
A Hercules aircraft, parked at RAF Mildenhall, was stolen by USAF Sergeant Paul Meyer. Meyer, who did not hold any pilot license and was not authorized to take off, intended to fly back to the United States to reunite with his wife.
The Flight
After taking off at night, Meyer headed south over the English Channel. He subsequently lost control of the aircraft, which crashed into the Channel approximately 48 kilometers north of Alderney Island. The aircraft was destroyed in the impact.
Aftermath
The sole occupant of the aircraft, Sergeant Paul Meyer, was killed. The circumstances of the unauthorized takeoff and subsequent crash were reported, noting that Meyer lacked the necessary pilot qualifications and authorization.