A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed Tuesday near Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico near White Sands National Park, according to a press release.
The F-16 was assigned to the 49th Wing and crashed at about 1:50 p.m. ET. near the city of Alamogordo.
The pilot ejected and was transported by ambulance for medical care, according to the press release, which also said that "all non-emergency personnel should avoid the area to prevent possible exposure to hazardous chemicals onboard the aircraft."
"Emergency response teams are responding to the scene using the entrance road into White Sands National Park. White Sands National Park is open but certain areas are currently closed to the public to allow for emergency response."
Holloman Air Force Base said in the press release that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the incident.
The New Mexico base is home to the 54th Fighter Group that is assigned to the 49th Wing of the Air Education and Training Command. The 54th Fighter Group operates an F-16 school.
The U.S. Army White Sands Missile Range is located nearby. The test and training range opened in 1941 and later included the Trinity Test Range, where the first U.S. nuclear weapons tests were administered during the Manhattan Project.
Newsweek reached out to Holloman Air Force Base for additional details and comment about the crash.
The F-16 is a fourth-generation fighter, entering service in 1979. Developed by General Dynamics for the U.S. Air Force, the Fighting Falcon is currently contracted to Lockheed Martin and used by militaries in more than two dozen nations.
Belgian government officials recently announced that it accelerating the delivery of F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jets to Ukraine in its ongoing war against Russia.
According to the Air Force's website, "the F-16 Fighting Falcon is a compact, multi-role fighter aircraft. It is highly maneuverable and has proven itself in air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack. It provides a relatively low-cost, high-performance weapon system for the United States and allied nations."
The all-weather F-16 is able to fly more than 500 miles, deliver its weapons with accuracy, defend itself against enemy aircraft and return to its starting point, the Air Force website states.
Update 4/30/24, 5:22 p.m. ET: This story has been updated with more information.
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