Key facts
- A U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed at Spangdahlem Air Base in western Germany on Tuesday.
- The pilot ejected safely and received immediate medical care.
- The incident occurred around 2:30 p.m. local time during a training exercise.
- An investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing.
- One person was injured, according to local district emergency services.
A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet assigned to the 52nd Fighter Wing crashed at Spangdahlem Air Base in western Germany on Tuesday afternoon. The aircraft came down around 2:30 p.m. local time, according to the 52nd Fighter Wing. The pilot ejected safely and received immediate medical care from emergency-response personnel. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
German air traffic control told German outlet SWR that the crash followed an exercise involving several aircraft. Other planes diverted to Ramstein air base after the incident. Emergency crews from the Eifelkreis Bitburg-Prüm district’s fire and disaster-protection services also responded. The district stated that one person was injured, but could not provide further details about the circumstances of the crash.