The US military announced that on Wednesday, December 3rd, a fighter jet belonging to the Air Force elite “Thunderbirds” aerial demonstration squadron crashed in the Southern California desert during an air show performance, but fortunately the pilot ejected safely.
According to the San Bernardino County Fire Department in California, the pilot was taken to the hospital for treatment, and the injuries are not life-threatening.
According to a statement released by Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, the F-16C “Fighting Falcon” fighter jet crashed around 10:45 a.m. local time during a training mission in the “controlled airspace over California”.
The fire department stated they responded to an “aviation emergency” near Trona, located in the Mojave Desert, about 180 miles north of Los Angeles.
In 2022, a Navy F/A-18E “Super Hornet” fighter jet also crashed near Trona, resulting in the death of the pilot.
The Air Force statement indicated that the crash incident on Wednesday is still under investigation, and further information will be released by the 57th Wing Public Affairs Office.
Known for their famous close formation flying demonstrations at air shows, the Air Force “Thunderbirds” squadron, like the Navy’s “Blue Angels”, undergo intensive training including flying with only inches apart. The brief statement released by the Air Force did not provide specific details on the crash incident.
Both the “Blue Angels” and “Thunderbirds” have experienced dozens of crash incidents throughout their long histories.
Established in 1953, the “Thunderbirds” squadron conducts seasonal training near Nellis Air Force Base, located close to Las Vegas. The aircraft stationed there include F-16 “Fighting Falcon” and F-22 “Raptor” fighter jets, as well as A-10 “Warthog” ground attack aircraft.
(This article references relevant reports from the Associated Press)