Major Accident in the US: F-16 Fighter Jet Crashes in California Desert, Pilot Narrowly Survives

California (The Uttam Hindu): A deadly incident was reported in the United States where an F-16 fighter jet, one of America’s most powerful combat aircraft crashed in the California desert. Thankfully, the pilot managed to eject just in time before the aircraft slammed into the ground, saving his life.

Jet Turns Into a Fireball

According to military officials, the crash occurred in the Mojave Desert region of California. A video of the incident has surfaced and is going viral on social media. The footage shows the F-16 Thunderbirds jet descending out of control, after which it hits the ground and explodes into a massive fireball.

Happened During Training Mission

The US Air Force stated in an official release that the F-16C Fighting Falcon was on a routine training mission at around 10:45 a.m. when the crash happened. The fire department received an emergency alert from the Trona area, about 180 miles from Los Angeles.

Pilot Out of Danger

The pilot was rescued immediately and taken to a hospital. Doctors have confirmed that he is undergoing treatment but has not suffered any life-threatening injuries. The Air Force has ordered a high-level investigation to determine the cause of the crash.

Similar Accidents in the Past

The same Mojave Desert region witnessed a crash in 2022 when a Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet went down, killing its pilot. Over the past decade, more than a dozen fighter jets from the US Air Force’s “Blue Angels” and “Thunderbirds” teams including F-22 Raptors and A-10 aircraft have also crashed.

It is noteworthy that the US Air Force is gradually replacing the aging F-16 fleet with the advanced F-35 fighters. Meanwhile, the Donald Trump administration had also explored development plans for the F-47 fighter jet.