A pilot from the 22nd Fighter Squadron at Spangdahlem AB, Germany, ejected safely from his F-16 fighter Thursday about 10 miles north of the base, but the fighter crashed into trees and a field. The pilot was on a routine training flight. There was no immediate word about the cause of the accident, which is now under investigation.
The six-week government shutdown did not affect the hours flown by Air Force pilots, a service spokesperson told Air & Space Forces Magazine—avoiding what could have been a major blow at a time when flying hours are already lower than they have been in decades.
