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F-16 from 482 FW crashes near Key West

January 16, 2008 (by Asif Shamim) - An F-16 from the 482 FW based out of Homestead Air Reserve Base crashed into the Gulf of Mexico on Tuesday evening during a routine training mission.

USAF F-16C block 30 #87-0347 seen in the service of 466th FS during better days.

The jet #87-0347 went into waters west of Key West at about 7:30 pm, said Homestead spokesman Tim Norton. The F-16 pilot, ejected from the aircraft and was picked up by a Navy helicopter. Norton went on to say the pilot was taken to a Key West hospital and was released hours later.

Homestead ARB is the home of the 93rd FS 'Makos'. The squadron has been on 24/7 alert missions as part of Operation Noble Eagle, covering for the F-15s of 125th FW whos jets have been grounded for safety reasons.

A board of inquiry will investigate the cause of the crash.