Air Force Academy Cadet Dies in Texas Plane Crash

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The basic cadet trainees of the U.S. Air Force Academy's Class of 2017 march out to start the field portion of Basic Cadet Training in Colorado Springs, Colo. July 22, 2013. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ray McCoy)
The basic cadet trainees of the U.S. Air Force Academy's Class of 2017 march out to start the field portion of Basic Cadet Training in Colorado Springs, Colo. July 22, 2013. (U.S. Air Force photo/Ray McCoy)

A U.S. Air Force Academy cadet has died in an aircraft accident in Texas, the school announced Friday.

The academy disclosed that the cadet, whose name is being withheld for at least 24 hours until the next of kin is notified, died in a single-engine aircraft crash.

"The incident is under investigation and further details will be released as soon as they become available," officials said in a statement.

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According to local media reports, the cadet was one of two people aboard the aircraft when it crashed near Cleburne Regional Airport south of Fort Worth.

Freshmen began arriving at the academy this week for basic training before they become cadets. The fall semester begins Aug. 9.

In 2017, Cadet 4th Class Timothy Barber died in a private plane crash in Texas. He was flying with his father, Gregory Barber, a retired Air Force pilot, who was also killed in the crash, according to Air Force Times.

-- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @Oriana0214.

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