Thunderbirds pilot killed when F-16 crashes during training flight in Nevada, Air Force says

ByABC7.com staff KABC logo
Thursday, April 5, 2018
The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform a flyover before the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, in Daytona Beach, Fla.
The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform a flyover before the NASCAR Daytona 500 auto race at Daytona International Speedway, Sunday, Feb. 26, 2017, in Daytona Beach, Fla.
AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack-AP

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (KABC) -- A U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds pilot was killed Wednesday morning when his F-16 Fighting Falcon jet crashed outside Las Vegas during a routine aerial demonstration training flight, the Air Force said.

The pilot, whose identity was withheld pending notification of family, crashed over the Nevada Test and Training Range after departing from Nellis Air Force Base, a news release said.

According to the statement, emergency personnel responded the scene after the crash happened about 10:30 a.m.

The cause of the accident was under investigation.

The pilot's death prompted the cancelation of the Thunderbirds' participation in this weekend's March Field Air & Space Expo in Riverside County.

"It is unknown how this accident will impact the remainder of the 2018 Thunderbirds season," the Air Force statement said.

It was the third aviation incident involving the U.S. military in the past 48 hours.

A pilot ejected safely as a Marine Corps Harrier jet crashed shortly after takeoff Tuesday at Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti.

That same day, a Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter crashed near El Centro in Imperial County. All four crew members were presumed dead. They have not been publicly identified.

ABC News contributed to this report.

Copyright © 2024 KABC Television, LLC. All rights reserved.