Pilot ejects safely after Air Force F-16 crash in New Mexico

HOLLOMAN AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. – The Air Force says a pilot successfully ejected from an F-16 before the fighter crashed in southern New Mexico during a training flight.

Holloman Air Force Base officials say the F-16 assigned to the 49th Wing at the base crashed Tuesday night about 80 miles (129 kilometres) southeast of the base.

Officials said in a statement that the pilot was taken to a hospital for treatment, but it did not provide information on any injuries to the pilot, whose identity was not released.

The statement said a board of officers will investigate the crash and that its cause wasn’t determined immediately.