An U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon Crash, Pilot Safe After Kunsan AB

An Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed near Kunsan Air Base, South Korea, during a routine training mission March 21.

The aircraft, assigned to the 36th Fighter Squadron here, was flying a mission as part of the 51st Fighter Wing's ongoing exercise. The pilot safely ejected from the single seat F-16 before it crashed into a rice field. No injuries have been reported.

Response teams are on scene at this time.

"We are grateful the pilot is safe and that no one was injured," said Col. Patrick McKenzie, the 51st Fighter Wing commander. "Our main priority now is conducting an investigation to determine what happened."


Source: US Air Force News - March 21, 2012 / military.com

Photo: Kunsan Air Base F-16 Fighting Falcon's tailhook catches the aircraft arresting system cable as part of a cable certification June 16. The arresting system cable is used during emergency landings when the aircraft's brakes have failed or used if there has been an aborted takeoff. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jonathan Steffen)

(3/21/2012)