US F-16 fighter jet crashes at American air base in Germany, one injured

A US fighter jet crashed on Tuesday at an American air force base in western Germany, local authorities reported. One person was injured in the incident.

The crash occurred at Spangdahlem Air Base, located near the border with Luxembourg. Emergency services were dispatched to the scene. Authorities in the Bitburg-Prüm district, where the base is located, confirmed that one person was hurt. The pilot of the aircraft is reported to have ejected successfully.

According to the German outlet "Bild", the incident occurred at around 2:10 pm on the base's grounds. Initial reports indicate the jet went down near a golf course located within the base's security perimeter.

Believed to be an F-16

The aircraft involved is believed to have been a US Air Force "F-16 Fighting Falcon" fighter jet. Spangdahlem hosts an F-16 fighter squadron consisting of roughly 20 aircraft that support both US Air Force and NATO operations around the world. The base is considered one of the most important air bases for US armed forces.

This is not the first such incident at the base. In October 2019, a US F-16 fighter jet crashed near the base during a training flight, and the pilot also managed to eject safely on that occasion.