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Colorado Native William Dubois Named as F-16 Pilot Killed in Crash

William Dubois died after his fighter jet developed mechanical problems on the way to an ISIS-related mission in the Middle East.
Image: F-16 Fighting Falcon
This October 16, 2008 US Department of Defense file photo shows an F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft as it flies over the Pacific Alaskan Range Complex during Red Flag - Alaska.JONATHAN SYNDER / AFP - Getty Images, file

The Air Force pilot who was killed when his F-16 crashed ahead of a mission to bomb ISIS targets was identified Tuesday as 30-year-old Capt. William Dubois, Dubois, who was from New Castle, Colorado, was trying to return to an airstrip in Jordan after a mechanical malfunction when his jet went down. Military officials have said the incident was not combat-related.

Dubois was a 2008 graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder's aerospace engineering program. "Capt. Dubois served in the United States Air Force and represented our nation, the state of Colorado, and this university with honor and distinction," CU-Boulder Chancellor Philip DiStefano said in a statement. "His sacrifice, and the sacrifices of the other CU men and women in uniform, are honored by our entire campus community."

Dubois was assigned to the 77th Fighter Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina.

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