Desert
ISLAMABAD: A United States Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon assigned to therenowned Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team crashed on Wednesdaymorning in a remote section of the Mojave Desert near Trona Airport in SanBernardino County, California. The incident occurred during a routinetraining mission, marking a rare mishap for the elite squadron.
According to official statements released by the U.S. Air Force, theaircraft experienced a sudden emergency shortly before 10:45 a.m. localtime, prompting the pilot to initiate ejection procedures. Dramatic footagecirculating on social media captured the jet spiralling downward before theejection seat fired, propelling the pilot clear of the aircraft momentsbefore impact. The F-16C subsequently struck the ground on a dry lake bedapproximately three miles south of Trona Airport, erupting into flames andproducing a large plume of black smoke visible for miles.
The pilot, a female major serving with the Thunderbirds, deployed herparachute successfully and landed safely in the desert terrain. Firstresponders from the San Bernardino County Fire Department and Naval AirWeapons Station China Lake reached the scene promptly. The pilot was foundconscious and alert, sustaining only minor injuries. She received immediatemedical attention on site before being airlifted to a hospital in nearbyRidgecrest for further evaluation and treatment. Military authoritiesconfirmed she was in stable condition and expected to make a full recovery.
The Thunderbirds confirmed that the aircraft was one of six that haddeparted Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada earlier that morning for atraining sortie. No ordnance was aboard the jet, and there were no reportedinjuries or property damage on the ground. Emergency teams conducted checksfor potential hazardous material leaks, particularly hydrazine from theejection seat system, but declared the area secure shortly afterward.
A safety investigation board has been convened by the 57th Wing at NellisAir Force Base to determine the exact cause of the mishap. Preliminaryreports suggest the aircraft suffered a catastrophic loss of control,though full details will not be released until the inquiry is complete. Thecrash site lies within restricted military airspace frequently used forhigh-performance training.
This incident is the first involving a Thunderbird aircraft in over adecade and comes as the team prepares for the upcoming air show season. Thesquadron temporarily suspended flying operations pending initial reviewfindings.
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Source:https://www.af.mil/News/Article-Display/Article/3991282/thunderbirds-f-16c-mishap-statement/
Source:https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/thunderbirds-f-16-crashes-in-california-desert
Tags: United States, Air Force, Thunderbirds, F-16C, California, Trona
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