Air Force Base In California Confirms F-16 Fighter Crash Outside Facility, Says 5 Injured

Sumaira FH Published May 17, 2019 | 12:33 PM

A US F-16 fighter jet crashed outside March Air Reserve Base near the city of Perris in southern California, the base has confirmed, adding that five people on the ground were injured

MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 17th May, 2019) A US F-16 fighter jet crashed outside March Air Reserve Base near the city of Perris in southern California, the base has confirmed, adding that five people on the ground were injured.

"On May 16... an F-16 fighter aircraft assigned to the 114 Fighter Wing, Sioux Falls, SD, was conducting a training mission for North American Aerospace Defense Command and impacted the ground outside March Air Reserve Base in California," the statement said.

The pilot ejected onto the airfield and later was transported to a local hospital for evaluation.

Also five people on the ground received injuries, according to the statement.

Riverside County Sheriff's Department called upon the local residents to stay away from the area of the incident.

According to local media, the jet crashed into a warehouse, igniting a small blaze. The fire was promptly extinguished.

In the meantime, the base's spokesman, Reggie Varner told CNN that the jet had a hydraulic failure which led to the crash.