---
title: "Air Force Identifies US Pilot Who Died In Ukraine Fighter Crash"
date: "2018-10-17"
modified: "2018-10-17"
authors:
  - name: "Paul Szoldra"
    job_title: "Editor"
    link: "https://taskandpurpose.com/authors/paul-szoldra.md"
url: "https://taskandpurpose.com/news/ukraine-crash-american-pilot/"
categories:
  - "News"
  - "Ukraine"
---

# Air Force Identifies US Pilot Who Died In Ukraine Fighter Crash

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/18990751-2.jpg>)

The U.S. Air Force has identified the American pilot who died during a routine training flight in Ukraine as Lt. Col. Seth "Jethro" Nehring, the service said in a press release.

- Nehring, a pilot with the California Air National Guard's 194th Fighter Squadron, and Ukrainian Col. Ivan Petrenko were killed during a "routine familiarization" flight while in a Ukrainian Su-27B roughly 175 miles southwest of Kiev on Oct. 16.

- “We are a close-knit family and when a tragedy like this occurs, every member of the 144th Fighter Wing feels it,” U.S. Air Force Col. Daniel Kelly, commander of Nehring's parent unit, the 144th Fighter Wing, said in a statement.
- “We share in the sorrow felt by Jethro’s loved ones and our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends as well as those of the Ukrainian aviator.”
- Nehring had been with the 144th Fighter Wing for more than 20 years, beginning his career as an enlisted crew chief before becoming a pilot of F-16 and F-15 fighter aircraft, the service said.
- He was taking part in the Clear Sky exercise, a multinational training event involving the U.S., Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Ukraine, Poland, the Netherlands, Romania, and the United Kingdom.
- The cause of the crash is being investigated by the U.S. and Ukrainian governments.

![](<https://taskandpurpose.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/image-placeholder-title-1172.png>)

## Author
Paul Szoldra was the Editor in Chief of Task & Purpose from October 2018 until August 2022. Since joining T&P, he has led a talented team of writers, editors, and creators who produce military journalism reaching millions of readers each month. He also founded and edits [Duffel Blog](<https://www.duffelblog.com/>), a popular satirical newsletter for the military. Before becoming a journalist in 2013, he served as a Marine infantryman in Afghanistan, Korea, and other areas of the Pacific. His eyes still go up every time a helicopter from Camp Pendleton flies over his office in Southern California.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/paulszoldra>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/paulszoldra/>)  
[Facebook](<https://www.facebook.com/pszoldra>)  
[Instagram](<https://www.instagram.com/paulszoldra/>)