An F-16 D Fighting Falcon from the Republic of Korea Air Force crashed on the runway at Eielson Air Force Base Tuesday around 4:00 P.M.
Captain Faith Hirshmann, Chief of Public Affairs, for the 354th Fighter Wing said the plane had just left the ground surface when it fell and crashed nose down on the runway.
“It’s not really clear if it left the ground for a second or two. It wasn't in the air, and then crashed back down. It basically skidded off the pavement.”
Two pilots ejected, and were picked up by emergency crews.
“They were taken to Bassett to be evaluated. I think they have very minimal injuries and they're already released.”
Bassett Army Community Hospital is a few miles away on Fort Wainwright.
Korean media also reported both pilots were uninjured.
The F-16D burned on the runway, inside the fence line of the Air Force Base. A plume of black smoke was visible from neighborhoods near the base. Emergency crews responded to the crash and put out the fire. Photos on social media show the plane nose down on the pavement. Officials are still assessing the extent of the damage, and still investigating the cause of the crash.
The fighter jet was damaged while preparing for the multinational “Red Flag” training exercise, which officially starts Thursday. It involves about 1500 service members from the US, Republic of Korea and Japan. They are expected to fly, maintain and support more than 70 aircraft during this iteration of the exercise. Most will operate from Eielson Air Force Base and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, near Anchorage.
This is the second crash at Eielson this year. Six months ago, a US fighter plane, an F-35, crashed after the pilot ejected and parachuted to safety. In that crash, the pilot reported a malfunction.
