F-16 fighter jet out of Arizona crashes on training mission; pilot safe
Nov 25, 2015, 1:29 PM
(USAF Photo)
A pilot crashed a fighter jet from a Phoenix-area Air Force base during a training run Wednesday in New Mexico, but was able to escape without serious injury.
The F-16 Fighting Falcon went down about 8:45 a.m. near Salinas Peak, less than 50 miles from Holloman Air Force Base.
Luke Air Force Base near Glendale, Arizona, released a brief statement on its website:
A pilot from Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., successfully ejected from an F-16 Fighting Falcon at approximately 8:45 a.m. northwest of Salinas Peak, N.M. while on a training mission.
Emergency response teams are on the scene and have safely recovered the pilot in good condition. An Air Force team will investigate the incident.
The aircraft is part of the 54th Fighter Group under the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke AFB, Ariz.
Additional details will be provided as soon as they become available.
An Air Force team will investigate the cause of the crash. Officials said the pilot was from the base in New Mexico and the F-16 was part of the 54th Fighter Group at the base in Arizona.
Luke is making room for F-35 jets and shifting many F-16s to Holloman for training missions.
The name of the pilot wasn’t immediately released.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.