A US Air Force Thunderbird F-16C Fighting Falcon crashed during a training flight in the Southern California desert on Wednesday morning. The pilot ejected in time and survived the crash. The Air Force said the incident took place around 10:45 am during a planned training mission over controlled airspace.
A video on social media showed the jet losing height as the pilot ejected. The aircraft hit the ground moments later and burst into flames. Fire crews from San Bernardino County reached the site near Trona, a small Mojave Desert community. They treated the pilot, who had non-life-threatening injuries, and took him to a nearby hospital.
The jet belonged to the Air Force’s Thunderbird demonstration team based at Nellis Air Force Base near Las Vegas. The team is known for close-formation flying and performs at air shows across the country. The Thunderbirds train each season to prepare for their shows and improve their precision.
Air Force officials started an investigation to learn what caused the crash. The 57th Wing Public Affairs Office will share more details when they become available.
