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A US Air Force Thunderbirds F-16C fighter jet crashed in the California desert Wednesday morning, erupting in flames after the pilot successfully ejected with minor injuries, authorities said.
The incident occurred around 10:45 a.m. Pacific Time near Trona Airport, just south of Death Valley in San Bernardino County. The pilot, the aircraft's sole occupant, deployed his parachute and was transported to a hospital in Ridgecrest for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
Dramatic video footage captured the moment the pilot ejected from the plummeting aircraft before the F-16 slammed into the desert floor, sending a massive fireball and thick plume of black smoke skyward. The crash site is near the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, which supports Navy research and testing programs.
Six Thunderbirds jets had departed their base Wednesday morning for what appeared to be a routine training flight. Only five returned safely, according to reports from the scene. The San Bernardino County Fire Department confirmed on social media that the pilot "was treated and transported by on-scene personnel for non-life-threatening injuries."
Firefighters responded rapidly to the remote crash site, though officials said there was no threat to surrounding vegetation or nearby communities. The public has been asked to avoid the immediate area while investigators examine the wreckage.
The Thunderbirds Air Demonstration Squadron, officially part of the US Air Force, performs precision aerobatic displays at airshows across the country to showcase American air power and assist with military recruitment. The elite team flies F-16 Fighting Falcons in formations that require split-second timing and expert coordination.
To maintain their skills between public performances, pilots conduct intensive training flights in highly controlled, restricted airspace near their Nevada base. These sessions involve high-speed aerobatics, tight formations and complex stunts that push both aircraft and pilots to their limits, including rapid climbs, rolls, loops and high-speed turns.
The cause of the crash remains unknown. The 57th Wing Public Affairs Office will release additional information as the investigation proceeds, authorities said. The F-16C Fighting Falcon, a single-engine multirole fighter, has been a mainstay of US Air Force operations since the late 1970s and serves as the Thunderbirds' primary aircraft.
Wednesday's incident marks the latest in a series of military aviation accidents involving high-performance aircraft during training operations. Safety protocols are standard practice during Thunderbirds flights, but the combination of speed, altitude changes and precision formations creates inherent risks even under controlled conditions.
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