A US Air Force Thunderbirds F-16C Fighting Falcon fighter jet crashed yesterday, Wednesday, December 3, 2025, during a training mission over controlled airspace in California. The pilot successfully executed a safe ejection and is in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries.
Crash Details and Response ::
The incident occurred at approximately 10:45 a.m. local time. The aircraft, which belongs to the US Air Force’s elite Thunderbirds air show team based at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, went down in a dry lake bed near the Trona area in San Bernardino County.
The San Bernardino County Fire Department responded around 11:10 a.m. to an aircraft emergency reported near the San Bernardino-Inio County line. Firefighters, working with emergency responders from Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, extinguished the resulting fire at the crash site.
Official Statement and Investigation::
The 57th Wing of the US Air Force released a statement confirming the details, noting the pilot’s stable condition and transportation to a nearby hospital for monitoring and follow-up care.
The cause of the crash is currently unknown, and an official investigation has been launched. Further information will be released by the 57th Wing Public Affairs Office as the inquiry progresses.
