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USAF F-16 crashed near Holloman AFB - Pilot ejected

October 29, 2019 (by Lieven Dewitte) - A pilot successfully ejected from an F-16 before the fighter crashed in southern New Mexico during a training flight.

The F-16 assigned to the 49th Wing at the base crashed Tuesday night about 80 miles (129 kilometers) southeast of the base.

Officials said in a statement that the pilot was taken to a hospital for treatment, but it did not provide information on any injuries to the pilot, whose identity was not released.

Holloman AFB hosts the 54th Fighter Group and its three fighter squadrons, the 311th FS "Sidewinders" and the 314th FS "Warhawks" flying the F-16C block 42 and the 8th FS "Black Sheep" flying the F-16C block 40.

The base also hosts the QF-16 drones, nicknamed “Zombie Viper”. The converted F-16 replaced the aging QF-4 drones which were retired in 2016.

It is the second Air Force F-16 crash in less than a month, following the Oct. 8 crash of an F-16 from the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem AB, Germany. That pilot also ejected amid the mishap.