US F-16 Fighter Jet Crashes Near Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany

An F-16 fighter jet assigned to the US air base Spangdahlem in western Germany crashed on Tuesday.

The US military confirmed the pilot ejected safely and is receiving medical treatment. The aircraft was returning to Spangdahlem Air Base following a routine training flight involving four F-16s when the crash occurred. The remaining three aircraft diverted to Ramstein Air Base and landed safely. Germany’s air traffic control authority stated two F-16s were in the training area, while two returned to Spangdahlem, with one believed to have crashed on approach.

The crash happened near Spangdahlem Air Base in the state of Rhineland-Palatinate at around 2:30 PM local time. Emergency response personnel are at the scene of the crash. Residents of the neighboring village of Binsfeld reported a lot of sirens blaring and saw a large column of smoke. Local mayor Birthe Thomsen witnessed a jet rapidly losing altitude and a large column of black smoke, then called emergency services.

Footage shared on social media also showed smoke rising from the reported crash site, near the B50 road between Binsfeld and Spangdahlem. The cause of the incident is under investigation, and additional information will be released as it becomes available. Spangdahlem Air Base hosts the US Air Force’s 52nd Fighter Wing, which operates F-16s and supports US and NATO missions in Europe and elsewhere.

Approximately 5,000 US military personnel and family members are based at the installation, along with 700 to 800 German employees. Aircraft from the base’s 480th Fighter Squadron were deployed to the Middle East in July.