A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed earlier today outside of Holloman Air Force Base located near the town of Alamagordo, New Mexico. The pilot was able to eject before impact.
The F-16 “assigned to the 49th Wing crashed west of Holloman Air Force Base near White Sands National Park at approximately 11:50 a.m. today,” a statement released by Holloman AFB via email reads. Local media reports, citing New Mexico State Police, note that the crash occurred near Highway 70 in Alamogordo, New Mexico, which runs next to the base.
“The sole pilot on board successfully ejected and was transported by ambulance for medical care,” the statement notes.
“Emergency response teams are responding to the scene using the entrance road into White Sands National Park. White Sands National Park is open but certain areas are currently closed to the public to allow for emergency response.” Those wanting to visit the White Sands National Park are advised to “check the White Sands National Park website for information about closures.”
The base is advising that all “non-emergency personnel should avoid the area to prevent possible exposure to hazardous chemicals onboard the aircraft,” per the statement. F-16s carry extremely toxic hydrazine that is used to power the jet’s emergency power supply.
The precise reason why the crash happened remains unclear, although the 49th Wing highlights that “an investigation conducted by a board of qualified officers is underway to determine the cause of the incident.”
F-16s belonging to the 49th Wing are used to train Viper pilots.
The incident at Holloman comes after a U.S. Air Force F-16 crash involving a pilot from the 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan Air Base, South Korea in January. That pilot was similarly able to eject prior to the crash, and was reportedly in good condition afterward.
Another F-16 crashed at Holloman AFB back in 2020, which you can read about here.
This is a developing story. We will update this post as more becomes available.
UPDATE: 9:10 P.M. EST
Col. Justin Spears, 49th Wing commander, Holloman Air Force Base, provided remarks following the F-16 crash earlier today which can be viewed here. In the short video, Spears confirmed that the fighter crashed around five miles west of Holloman AFB in White Sands National Park. The pilot, who ejected before the crash, was treated for his injuries at a local medical facility, and has been released, he noted.
Contact the author: oliver@thewarzone.com