Air Force Statement for ABC News F-22 Investigation

May 2, 2012 — -- As part of ABC News' investigation into the Air Force's handling of a fatal F-22 Raptor fighter jet crash that took the life of Capt. Jeff Haney and subsequent known but as-of-yet unsolved apparent problems with the plane's oxygen system, ABC News requested interviews with top Air Force officials.

The Air Force declined to participate in the interviews and instead held various press conferences about the plane, the content of which have been previously reported by ABC News and have been included in the new report.

READ: Exclusive: Family Demands Truth in Air Force Pilot's Death

The Air Force also provided the following statement:

The F-22 and the crews who fly and maintain it provide world class air superiority against today's and tomorrow's threats. While the F-22 program has encountered challenges, the Air Force remains committed not only to their resolution but also to unparalleled dedication to flight safety.

It is this commitment to flight safety that resulted in May 2011 fleet-wide safety stand-down of the F-22 and the Scientific Advisory Board investigation of potential physiological events occurring during flight. While the results of the Board's investigation did not identify specific engineering anomalies that explain the physiological symptoms that pilots have experienced, it did provide information to aircrews to aid them in recognizing, and responding to, flight-related physiological conditions. Even without identifying specific engineering faults, the Air Force is pursuing reliable monitoring and backup system modifications to minimize aircrew risk.

Flying America's premier fighter aircraft always entails risk but the Air Force has, and always will, take every measure to ensure the safety of our aircrews while delivering air superiority for the nation.