American F-16 Warplane Explodes In A Huge Fireball As It Crashes During Exercises In Southern Germany

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Published on Wednesday, 12 August 2015 08:40

An American warplane has crashed in southern Germany – exploding into a huge fireball that caused woodland to burst into flames as it ploughed into the ground.

The F-16 jet was flying near Engelmannsreuth in northern Bavaria early this morning when it is understood to have suffered engine failure.

Thankfully the warplane’s pilot had time to escape from the doomed aircraft using his ejector seat and was taken to a nearby medical centre where he was treated for minor injuries.

The crash happened at 9.30am this morning shortly after the pilot took off from Spangdahlem Air Force Base, where he was part of the 50th Fighter Wing.

Authorities said engine failure appeared to be the cause of the crash

A huge fireball erupted from the ground when the fighter jet hit the ground, leaving firefighters struggling to contain the fuel-driven blaze in woodland close to the crash site.

With the engine’s failing, the pilot had just enough time to eject from the plane before it dramatically ploughed into the ground.

He was picked up by ambulance and taken to a clinic near Bayreuth to be treated for minor injuries.

The pilot jettisoned fuel tanks over an unpopulated area before the crash, the 52nd Fighter Wing at Spangdahlem said in a statement.

The cause of the accident is now under investigation. The 52nd Fighter Wing said it cancelled flying operations for 24 hours for safety reasons.

A local police spokesman said: ‘The crash site is in an area that is difficult to reach. Emergency services and the fire brigade are trying to get to it to put out the fire,’ added the police spokesman.

‘US military first responders are working with German authorities to secure the crash site,’ said the US statement,’ he added.

‘A 350-metre cordon was established to protect the crash site and begin investigations,’ he said.

Spangdahlem is one of about 20 US military bases in Germany – most in the south of the country.

-Daily Mail

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