The US Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon went down near Zemmer, Germany, “during a routine training sortie”, on 8 October at around 3pm, according to US Air Force statement.

According to the announcement:

“The pilot ejected safely and has been recovered with minor injuries. The aircraft was assigned to the 480th Fighter Squadron, 52nd Fighter Wing, Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany.”

The uninhabited area is about 10km south of the air base.

There were no other injuries and “no longer any danger from the wrecked aircraft”, Trier police said in a statement. Part of the K34 county road remains closed while the military removes the wreckage.

“At least 24 F-16 fighter jets and around 4,000 US troops are stationed at the Spangdahlem air base,” Deutsche Welle reported.

Stars and Stripes, a newspaper for the US military community, reported on 8 October that:

“Spangdahlem is conducting a base readiness exercise this week, testing its ability to function in a wartime environment. 

 

“Tuesday’s crash was the fifth involving planes out of the base in Germany’s Rhineland-Pfalz region since 2002.”

The air force said it would investigate the cause of the accident.