F-16CJ crashes during takeoff in Iraq, pilot ejects safely

  • Published
  • By Master Sgt. Steve Horton
  • 332nd AEW Public Affairs
BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq --  A U.S. Air Force F-16CJ Fighting Falcon Block 50 assigned to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing's 13th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron here, crashed during takeoff Sunday.

The pilot ejected safely and was transported to the Air Force Theater Hospital, evaluated, and released. He was taking off on a mission to provide coalition ground forces fighting anti-Iraqi forces with close-air support, including real-time reconnaissance and armed overwatch. Other coalition aircraft already airborne covered the assigned mission.

The aircraft crashed near the runway and the resulting fire was extinguished by Air Force firefighters from the 332nd Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron and Army firefighters from the 60th Ordnance Detachment, 1034th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion.

"What we do is inherently dangerous and we train our Airmen to respond to this kind of incident," said Brig. Gen. Burton Field, 332nd AEW commander. "When something like this happens, you really see everyone come together as a cohesive team to assess and control the situation.

"The men and women here are highly trained professionals prepared to accomplish the mission in a variety of conditions and circumstances," he said.

F-16s deployed to the 332nd AEW provide close air support to coalition forces around the clock, saving American and Iraqi lives, and helping in Iraq's transition to democracy. This aircraft was deployed from the 13th Fighter Squadron, 35th Fighter Wing, Misawa Air Base, Japan.

The 332nd ECES explosive ordnance disposal unit will clear the crash site of any munitions and an investigation into the cause of the crash has been started. Accident investigations typically last a month or longer.

The Air Force has been flying combat missions in the region since Operation Desert Shield in 1990.