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Sep 22, 2026

US F-16 fighter jet crashes at air base in western Germany

An F-16 fighter jet assigned to US Air Base Spangdahlem in western Germany crashed, with the pilot ejecting safely and receiving medical care.

▪During a training exercise involving four F-16 fighter jets near Spangdahlem Air Base on September 22, 2026, two F-16s remained in the training area near Spangdahlem Air Base while two returned toward Spangdahlem Air Base, with one crashing on approach
▪A total of four F-16 fighter jets were participating in a training exercise prior to the crash of an F-16 near Spangdahlem Air Base on September 22, 2026, according to Germany's air traffic control authority
▪A Texas National Guard F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing crashed during a routine training mission in Grand Traverse County, Michigan, on September 17, 2026