Overnight, a Lockheed-Martin F-16C Fighting Falcon assigned to the Arizona Air National Guard’s 162nd Fighter Wing crashed during a training mission.
The incident occurred at approximately 8PM local time, with the aircraft coming down approximately five miles east of the Douglas Municipal Airport, approximately one hundred twenty miles from the 162nd’s base at Tucson International Airport.
In a news release issued shortly before midnight local time, 2LT Lacey Roberts stated the pilot’s status was “unknown” and no further information has been provided since.
A spokeswoman for the Cochise County Sheriff’s Department said initial reports from the scene indicated the pilot may have ejected, but that has not been confirmed by the 162nd FW. No civilian casualties were reported.
In a 911-call to the Sheriff’s Department, a woman reported an airplane on fire in her front yard. The crash sparked a larger fire, as the aircraft severed a gas line in the crash, making it impossible for investigators to get on location right away. Multiple agencies responded, including a HAZMAT team, cordoning off an area approximately two miles wide to preserve the scene as much as possible.
Check back for updates as they become available.