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U.S. Air Force Thunderbird pilot ejects safely before F-16 crash in California desert

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An Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon from the Thunderbirds demonstration team crashed late Wednesday morning near Trona, California, during a training mission in controlled airspace. The pilot safely ejected and was taken to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to Nellis Air Force Base and local fire officials.

Emergency crews responded to the crash site in the Mojave Desert, about 180 miles north of Los Angeles. The cause of the crash is under investigation, with updates to come from the 57th Wing Public Affairs Office.

The Thunderbirds, based at Nellis Air Force Base near Las Vegas, perform precision aerobatics at air shows and routinely train in tight formations. The Air Force did not release details on the circumstances that led to the mishap.