Fighter jet crashes near US and NATO airbase in Germany

An F-16 fighter jet crashed Tuesday near a U.S. and NATO air base in Germany, prompting the pilot to eject for safety. The aircraft, estimated to cost $60–80 million in military hardware value, was on approach to Spangdahlem Air Base in the western German region of Rhineland-Palatinate when the crash occurred, according to a base spokesperson. The pilot was able to eject but suffered injuries and was receiving medical treatment, the spokesperson said. No further details about the pilot’s condition or the cause of the crash were released. The incident followed the departure of 12 F-16s from Oklahoma’s 138th Fighter Wing toward the Middle East on Tuesday, though the unit said it was not aware of any incident involving its assigned aircraft.