According to a US military press release, a US F-16 fighter jet crashed during training near a significant US military base in South Korea on Saturday morning.
At 9:45 a.m. local time, the F-16 Fighting Falcon collided “in an agricultural area” near Osan Air Base in Pyeongtaek, South Korea, according to a United States Air Force statement.
The military stated that the aviator ejected safely and was transported to the nearest medical facility. There were no civilians injured during the incident.
The military stated that the pilot was participating in a routine daytime training mission at the time of the incident and that the cause of the accident is currently being investigated.
Col. Henry R. Jeffress, III, commander of the 8th Fighter Wing, said in a statement, “While we do not have any additional information at this time, we are relieved the pilot ejected safely and that there were no other injuries.” “The United States Air Force will establish an independent Safety Investigation Board to review all data and evidence related to today’s incident, determine its cause, and recommend any corrective safety measures to ensure the F-16 fleet’s safety.”
Governor of South Korea’s Gyeonggi Province Kim Dong-yeon wrote on Twitter that a local fire department was dispatched to extinguish the fire and that there is no danger of a secondary explosion from the mishap.
“The Gyeonggi-do Fire and Disaster Headquarters was dispatched immediately to extinguish the fire and rescue lives, and there is no risk of a secondary explosion,” Governor Dong-yeon wrote in a translated post.
The pilot’s name has not been published by the military at this time.
