An F-16 military jet crashed near Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico, just before noon local time on Tuesday, a U.S. official confirmed to Fox News.
According to Air Force Col. and 49th Wing Commander Justin Spears, the jet’s pilot was the lone occupant in the plane and was able to safely eject from the aircraft before it crashed.
The pilot was transported to a local hospital, where he was determined to be in good condition and later released, Spears said.
Spears said the Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed about five miles west of the base near White Sands National Park at about 11:50 a.m. local time.
“We are working closely with local authorities, especially the White Sands National Park staff to ensure the safety and well-being of the public and our first responders, and to protect the integrity of the crash site,” Spears said. “An investigation will be conducted by a board of qualified officers to determine the cause of the incident.”
PILOT REPORTED THAT PLANE CARRYING FUEL CAUGHT ON FIRE BEFORE FATAL ALASKA CRASH
Crews responded to the crash scene using an entrance road into the national park.
While White Sands National Park is open to the public, some areas have been closed off because of the emergency response.
For more information about the park’s closures, visit www.nps.gov/whsa/planyourvisit/conditions.htm.
Holloman Air Force Base is located about five miles west of Alamogordo, New Mexico.
This is the third U.S. F-16 crash in the last six months.
An F-16 crashed off the coast of South Korea in December during a training mission and another F-16 crashed off the coast of South Korea in January also during a training mission.
