Colorado Springs Gazette -- A Colorado Springs man was one of two people killed Saturday when their fighter jet crashed in eastern Afghanistan.

Capt. Mark R. McDowell, 26, was assigned to the 336th Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina. Air Force investigators are still trying to determine why the plane crashed. According to officials, the plane did not crash because of hostile fire.

"Our thoughts and prayers go out to their families and loved ones ... and to the Airmen and the joint and coalition team members who called them friends and will miss their fellow warriors," said Lt. Gen. Gary North, U.S. Air Forces Central commander in a prepared statement.

McDowell was flying with Capt. Thomas J. Gramith of Eagan, Minn. who also died in the crash.