American F-16 fighter jet crashes near US air base in Germany, military says

The pilot "ejected safely" and is receiving medical care, the air base said.

An American F-16 fighter jet crashed near a U.S. air base in western Germany on Tuesday, according to military officials.

The pilot "ejected safely" and is receiving medical care, U.S. Air Base Spangdahlem said in a statement.

Smoke is seen after a U.S. F-16 fighter jet crashed near U.S. Air Base Spangdahlem in Germany, Sept. 22, 2026.Ewout Bajema via Storyful"Emergency response personnel are on scene," the statement said. "The cause of the incident is under investigation."

The fighter jet, assigned to the 52nd Fighter Wing, crashed at 2:30 p.m. local time. Smoke could be seen in video near the scene.

The news comes days after a separate Texas National Guard F-16 crash in Michigan last week.