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Thunderbirds Pilot Ejects Safely as F-16C Crashes During California Training Flight

The pilot of a Thunderbirds F-16C ejected safely on Dec. 3, 2025, during a California training flight and is in stable condition after receiving medical care. Emergency crews extinguished a post-crash fire in a dry lake bed near Trona and the sole occupant was taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The 57th Wing is conducting an investigation into the incident. The Thunderbirds, based at Nellis AFB, perform demanding high‑G routines and have experienced fatal training accidents in the past.

03:57 PM, 12/04/2025Security
Thunderbirds Pilot Ejects Safely as F-16C Crashes During California Training Flight

On December 3, 2025, at approximately 10:45 a.m., a U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds pilot ejected safely from an F-16C Fighting Falcon during a training mission over controlled airspace in California. The pilot was in stable condition and received follow-on medical care after being treated for non-life-threatening injuries and transported to a nearby hospital.

San Bernardino County Fire officials reported crews responded around 11:10 a.m. to an aircraft emergency near the San Bernardino–Inyo county line. First responders from local agencies and Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake emergency personnel worked together to extinguish a post-crash fire in a dry lake bed near the town of Trona where the jet came down.

Investigation Underway

The 57th Wing Public Affairs Office said the incident is under investigation. Officials have not yet released details on the cause of the crash; the ongoing inquiry will determine the sequence of events that led to the ejection and the loss of the aircraft. Additional information will be provided by the 57th Wing as it becomes available.

About the Thunderbirds

Based at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, the Thunderbirds are the Air Force's premier aerial demonstration squadron. The team flies F-16C Fighting Falcons in tightly choreographed formations that demand rigorous, year-round training and expose pilots to high-speed, high‑G maneuvers.

Pilots selected for the Thunderbirds are drawn from operational fighter squadrons and typically serve two-year tours before returning to frontline assignments. The demonstration team’s schedule includes dozens of airshows and public events each year as part of recruitment and community outreach efforts.

Safety Context

The Thunderbirds have experienced serious mishaps in the past, including a 2018 training crash that killed Maj. Stephen Del Bagno. That accident prompted an Air Force safety review highlighting the inherent risks of high-speed, high-G demonstration routines even in controlled environments.

Officials have emphasized that the current incident is being thoroughly investigated and that safety remains a top priority. Updates will be released by the 57th Wing Public Affairs Office as new facts emerge.

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