A Marietta man who was killed in a U.S. Marine Corps training flight in California last week has been identified as a Wheeler High School graduate.
In a report earlier Tuesday, 11 Alive said Maj. Andrew Mettler, 31, died Thursday after his F/A-18D Hornet crashed at the Marine Corps Air Station Miramar north of San Diego.
The report said that after graduating from Wheeler, Mettler attended Georgia Tech, where he met his wife Nancy.
He graduated from Georgia Tech in 2007 and became a Naval aviator, and was stationed at the Marine Corps Air Station in Beaufort, S.C.
Mettler and his wife had two sons and a daughter.
According to the Times of San Diego, Mettler was the only passenger on board the plane when it crashed, and more than 80 first-responders and Coast Guard personnel conducted a search.
His body was found in a remote area east of Interstate 15 near the MCAS Miramar landing area, according to NBC 7 in San Diego.
The TV station also received a statement from Mettler’s father, Mike Mettler, that “my wife and I are devastated by the loss of our Marine Pilot son and our hearts are pouring out for our daughter-in-law and our three grandchildren.”
Multiple news outlets reported that the cause of the crash is under investigation.
Second Marine Aircraft Wing (MAW) Commanding General Maj. Gen. Scott Benedict issued the following statement through the U.S. Marine Corps:
“I am deeply saddened to share the loss of Maj. Andrew ‘Simple Jack’ Mettler, a fellow Marine aviator who was honing his craft as a Hornet pilot and leader in his squadron, the Fighting Bengals. I had the great honor of flying in an F/A-18D with Simple Jack and will always remember his skill piloting the Hornet and his wry smile. It is with great humility that I offer my deepest condolences to the family, loved ones, and friends of Maj. Andrew Mettler. You remain at the forefront of our thoughts and prayers.”
The Marine Corps release said Mettler was assigned to the All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron 224, which was was participating in a service level training exercise.
Mettler was decorated several times, including the Navy Unit Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Korea Defense Service Medal and a Sea Service Deployment Ribbon with four bronze stars, according to the Times of San Diego.
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