The Air Force has issued an all points bulletin for an airman last seen a few miles from Aviano Air Base.
Staff Sgt. Halex Hale, assigned to the 31st Fighter Wing, was last seen in Sacile, Italy, the evening of July 2, according to a base release. Sacile is about 10 miles away from the base.
Local Italian law enforcement officials along with volunteers from Aviano are searching the area for Hale.
Hale, an Indiana native, has been stationed at the base for about two years, family members tell Fox 59 News. He had served in Afghanistan prior to his assignment with the 31st Fighter Wing, and has been in the Air Force six years, Hale's family said.
Italian law enforcement officials are leading the investigation. The Air Force is encouraging anyone with more information to contact the base law enforcement desk at (39) 0434-30-7200.
Air Force Times will update this story as more information becomes available.
Oriana Pawlyk covers deployments, cyber, Guard/Reserve, uniforms, physical training, crime and operations in the Middle East and Europe for Air Force Times. She was the Early Bird Brief editor in 2015. Email her at opawlyk@airforcetimes.com.
