Dead fighter pilot had young daughter

The dead fighter pilot has been named by ABC News in America as Marine fighter pilot Major Taj Sareen from San Mateo County in California. He leaves a family including a young daughter.

ABC7 News says Major Sareen graduated from the University of San Francisco in 2004. He was a pilot in the Marine Corps for nearly 11 years.

According to his LinkedIn profile, Sareen joined the Marine Corps as an F/A-18 Pilot in 2005. Major Sareen was stationed at Marine Corp Air Station Miramar in San Diego County.

His jet was one of six coming back to the states from the Gulf when it crashed in Cambridgeshire.

ABC 7 News Photographer Chris Jewett attended USF with Taj Sareen. Even before Sareen embarked on his military career, Jewett says he knew he wanted to make a difference.

"He had this confidence and infectious smile. When he came in the room everyone wanted to talk to him whether he was wearing his dress blues or not," Jewett said. "It just seemed like something he was called to do, something meaningful."

You can watch the ABC7 News report here

And click below for a report on the plane crash by ITV Anglia's Malcolm Robertson