An F-16 military jet crashed near Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico on Tuesday.
The pilot ejected safely from the aircraft before it went down approximately five miles west of the base near White Sands National Park around noon.
The pilot was transported to a local hospital and later released in good condition.
Base officials are working with local authorities and the National Park Service to secure the crash site and investigate the cause of the incident.
Emergency crews responded using an entrance road into the park, though some areas were closed to the public.
“We are working closely with local authorities, especially the White Sands National Park staff to ensure the safety and well-being of the public and our first responders, and to protect the integrity of the crash site,” 49th Wing Commander Justin Spears said. “An investigation will be conducted by a board of qualified officers to determine the cause of the incident.”
This is the third crash of a U.S. F-16 within the past six months, with two other incidents occurring off the coast of South Korea during training missions in December and January.
