A pilot safely ejected after an F-16 fighter from the Oklahoma Air National Guard crashed in Louisiana on March 23, 2022.
“An Air Force F-16 assigned to the 138th Fighter Wing of the Oklahoma Air National Guard crashed today in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana. The pilot safely ejected and was recovered with no serious injuries,” the Oklahoma National Guard said in a statement. No other injuries were reported by rescue services.
Although the 138th Fighter Wing is headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the pilot and aircraft were taking part in a routine training mission that departed from Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Texas.
“The incident is under investigation and additional details will be provided once released by the Air Force,” the National Guard statement continued.
The National Guard is composed of Army and Air National Guard units and exists in all 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia. The units typically battle fires and help communities deal with natural disasters such as floods, hurricanes, snowstorms or other emergency situations.
The F-16 Fighting Falcon has been in use for over four decades, with over 4,500 produced and operated by 25 countries, according to manufacturer Lockheed Martin.