Firefighters in San Bernardino County responded to a crash near China Lake that involved an F-16 fighter jet.
The incident happened in the unincorporated community of China Lake, north of Ridgecrest, close to the San Bernardino/Inyo County line.
At about 10:45 a.m., a “Thunderbird pilot ejected safely from a F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft during a training mission over controlled airspace,” the U.S. Air Force said in a statement.
The pilot is in stable condition and receiving care, according to the Air Force.
The fire department said the pilot suffered non life-threatening injuries. They also reported a fire stemming from the downed aircraft but said there was no threat to the surrounding vegetation or the community.
Eyewitness video shows a ball of fire at the crash site as the solo pilot parachutes down to the ground.
It’s unknown what caused the fighter jet to go down. No further details were immediately known. The incident remains under investigation.
