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US F-16 crashes in Germany - Pilot safe

August 11, 2015 (by Lieven Dewitte) - A pilot ejected from a U.S. F-16 before it crashed Tuesday morning around 09:00h in a forested area in southern Germany. He parachuted to safety but suffered minor injuries which required medical attention, according to a local police spokesman.

USAF F-16C block 50 #91-0366 from the 480th FS is seen in the static display at RAF Fairford during the RIAT on July 16th, 2011. [Photo by Asif Shamim]

The plane had taken off from the U.S. Air Force's Spangdahlem Air Base in western Germany, more than 140 kilometers west of Frankfurt and crashed near Bayreuth, in Bavaria.

The jet is the 480th Fighter Squadron flagship aircraft F-16C block 50 with serial #91-0366. The plane was on a training flight at the time. The cause of the accident is now under investigation.

A local TV station reported that the jet was carrying a 100-kilogram bomb for a training exercise.

The crash site is in an area that is difficult to reach. Emergency services and the fire brigade are trying to get to it to put out the fire.

Spangdahlem Air Base, home to the 52d Fighter Wing , is a USAF base constructed in the early 50s.


Additional images:

USAF F-16C #91-0366 - 480 FS. [Sideview by Berry Vissers]

USAF F-16C block 50 #91-0366 from the 522nd FS is seen coming into land during Red Flag 06-02 on August 17th, 2006. [Photo by Marco Sommacal]

USAF F-16C block 50 #91-0388 from the 22nd FS taxis past the control tower on the flightline at Spangdahlem AB on April 27th, 2010. Six F-16s permanently departed for the 179th FS as part of the Combat Air Forces Restructuring plan. [USAF photo by SrA. Benjamin Wilson]