May 12, 2002	Sunday	Safar 28, 1423

TAMPA (USA), May 11: US Coast Guard and Navy ships and helicopters have called off a search after two navy jets vanished over the Gulf of Mexico and the seven missing are presumed dead, the navy announced on Saturday.

Six US citizens, including a navy lieutenant commander and Royal Saudi Air Force Major Mubarak Al-Ghamdi, a flight officer instructor, died.

“Extensive efforts in the search and rescue for the missing personnel were exhausted,” the navy website said.

Two T-39 Sabreliner jets, flown by two civilian contractor pilots, disappeared from radar Wednesday afternoon about 40 miles south of Pensacola during a routine training mission.

The seven were assigned to Training Squadron 86, part of Training Wing 6, at the Pensacola Naval Air Station.

An investigation was underway to determine the cause of the crash.—AFP