Community Corner

Air Force Captain From Tampa Dies in F-16 Crash

Capt. James Michael Steel of Tampa died April 3 in Afghanistan, according to media reports. WFla.com tweeted this photo of the pilot.

WFla.com is reporting that a Tampa airman has died in an F-16 crash in Afghanistan.

The media report says that the Department of Defense announced on Friday the death of 29-year-old Capt. James Michael Steel, of Tampa. (WFla.com tweeted this photo of Steel when the news was announced Friday afternoon.)

His plane crashed near Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. He was assigned to the 77th Fighter Squadron, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C.

Find out what's happening in Tampafor free with the latest updates from Patch.

Capt. Steel  completed pilot training and arrived at Shaw Air Force Base in 2010.  He was the chief of mobility for the 77th Fighter Squadron at Shaw.

Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.