By Gabe Whisnant
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An F-16 Thunderbird crashed Wednesday in a remote desert area just south of the Trona Airport, near the edge of Death Valley National Park in Southern California.
Videos posted to social media shows the F-16 crashing with the pilot ejecting. The pilot was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not life-threatening, according to the San Bernardino County Fire Department.
The fire department said crews responded to an “aircraft emergency” near Trona, an unincorporated Mojave Desert community roughly 180 miles north of Los Angeles.
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The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds account posted on X, "On December 3, 2025, at approximately 10:45 a.m., a Thunderbird pilot ejected safely from a F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft during a training mission over controlled airspace in California. The pilot is in stable condition and receiving follow-on care. The incident is under investigation and further information will be released from the 57th Wing Public Affairs Office."
The Air Force offered no additional details Wednesday about what led to the crash.
The 57th Wing, based at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, is one of the Air Force’s premier training and tactics units, responsible for preparing combat-ready forces and developing advanced air combat doctrine. The wing oversees a wide range of operations, including the famed Weapons School, which provides elite tactical training to pilots, intelligence officers and other specialists.
It also manages large-scale exercises such as Red Flag, which simulate real-world combat environments and bring together U.S. and allied aircrews for high-intensity training. Known for its role in shaping modern air warfare tactics, the 57th Wing serves as a key hub for refining and testing the Air Force’s most advanced capabilities.
Like the Navy’s Blue Angels, the Air Force Thunderbirds are known for flying in extremely close formations during air shows, training to maneuver within inches of one another. Both the Thunderbirds and the Blue Angels have recorded numerous accidents over their decades-long histories. Established in 1953, the Thunderbirds train seasonally out of Nellis Air Force Base, where F-16s, F-22s and A-10s are among the aircraft stationed.
In 2022, a Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet crashed near Trona, killing the pilot.
F-16C Fighting Falcon: What To Know
The F-16C Fighting Falcon is a single-engine, multirole fighter aircraft widely used by the U.S. Air Force and allied militaries around the world. First introduced in the 1980s, the F-16C is known for its agility, advanced avionics and ability to perform both air-to-air and air-to-ground missions.
The jet can reach speeds of more than twice the speed of sound and is equipped with a 20 mm cannon along with a range of precision-guided weapons. Despite newer aircraft entering service, the F-16C remains a core part of U.S. tactical air power and continues to undergo upgrades to extend its operational life.
Updates: 12/3/25, 6:27 p.m. ET: This article was updated with new information and remarks.
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