[Mat_Helm]

Pilot Fired From 7,000 Feet At School

New Jersey public schools were closed Thursday because of a teachers convention. The Ocean County school is scheduled to reopen Monday.

The pilot of the single-seat jet was supposed to fire at a target on the ground three and half miles away from school on the Warren Grove firing range, Webster said.

The military firing range covers parts of Little Egg Harbor, Bass River and Woodland townships in the southern part of the state.

"We don't know what happened that caused the gun to fire," Webster said.

The plane was 7,000 feet in the air when the shots were fired. The gun, an M61-A1 Vulcan cannon, is located in the plane's left wing.

"The National Guard takes this situation very seriously," said Lt. Col. Roberta Niedt, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. "The safety of our people and the surrounding communities are our foremost concern."

The jet that fired the rounds was assigned to the 113th Wing located at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. The fighter jet returned there after firing the shots, Webster said.

Webster would not identify the pilot or detail possible disciplinary measures.

Mike Dupuis, president of the township's Board of Education, said there were no precautions the school district could have taken to prevent such an incident.

School workers are mindful that the range is nearby, he said.

"Being so close to the range, that's always in the back of our minds. It is very scary. I have children in that school and relatives that work there," he said.

The school houses students from grades three to six.

The range has been used by the military since the end of World War II, long before the once-rural area was developed.

[Terabitten]

The pilot of the single-seat jet was supposed to fire at a target on the ground three and half miles away from school on the Warren Grove firing range, Webster said. The military firing range covers parts of Little Egg Harbor, Bass River and Woodland townships in the southern part of the state. "We don't know what happened that caused the gun to fire," Webster said. The plane was 7,000 feet in the air when the shots were fired. The gun, an M61-A1 Vulcan cannon, is located in the plane's left wing. "The National Guard takes this situation very seriously," said Lt. Col. Roberta Niedt, a spokeswoman for the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. "The safety of our people and the surrounding communities are our foremost concern."

I'm a grunt, not a pilot, but 7000 feet and 3 1/2 miles from the range does NOT sound like the typical strafing profile. Is there any possibility the gun misfired? I don't know *anything* about F16s, but is it possible that an electrical malfunction caused the gun to fire? It's interesting that the spokesperson said they didn't know what caused the gun to fire, not that they didn't know why the pilot fired the gun.

[kingu]

The range has been used by the military since the end of World War II, long before the once-rural area was developed.

Wow, range 3 1/2 miles away... Yeah, that'd be the place I'd want to move to. Bet there will be calls to close the place down.

[Sloth]

Mike Dupuis, president of the township's Board of Education, said there were no precautions the school district could have taken to prevent such an incident.

They should put up a sign that says "F-16-Free Zone"

[expatpat]

Someone's navigation skills were not up to snuff......

[nw_arizona_granny]

ping

[cookcounty]

a firing range, for fighter jets, 3 1/2 miles from a school? Is that possible?

[politicket]

New Jersey public schools were closed Thursday because of a teachers convention.

Do public school teachers ever TEACH?

There are A LOT of times that I drive by our local "indoctrination center" and the parking lot is empty.

[dmartin]

Mike Dupuis, president of the township's Board of Education, said there were no precautions the school district could have taken to prevent such an incident.

What's wrong with you Mikey? Think outside of the box. Now every public school in Jersey can have their very own anti-aircraft battery. Just think how you and the rest of your ilk can leach off the taxpayers to finance that.

Just the fact that this 'educator' felt the need to make this statement speaks volumes.

[Ronaldus Magnus]

Whatever the cause, the military can kiss their Warren Grove firing range good bye.