October 8, 2019 (by Michael Abrams) -
A U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed Tuesday afternoon near the German town of Zemmer-Rodt, Air Force and German officials said.
The pilot ejected safely and has been recovered with minor injuries, officials at Spangdahlem Air Base said in a statement. The aircraft, which was on a routine training flight, was assigned to the 480th Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Wing, at Spangdahlem, the statement said.
The crash site is a few miles south of Spangdahlem and north of the city of Trier.
Several people called the German police in Trier at about 3:15 p.m. to report that a plane had crashed, the police said in a statement.
The crash occurred in an uninhabited area, which has been cordoned off, and several roads in the area have been shut down, the statement said.
Spangdahlem is conducting a base readiness exercise this week, testing its ability to function in a wartime environment.
This report will be updated.
