F‑16 jet crashes near New Mexico military base with dangerous chemicals on board

On April 30th, near a military base in New Mexico, an F-16 fighter jet crashed. The reasons behind the crash are currently under investigation by US Air Force experts. Fortunately, the pilot managed to eject safely. There were dangerous substances on board, leading to concerns about possible environmental contamination.

The accident occurred on Tuesday, April 30, at around 11 AM Greenwich Time, close to the United States Air Force's Holloman Base, approximately 10 kilometres west of Alamogordo city. The F-16 fighter crashed near White Sands National Park in New Mexico.

The Holloman Air Force Base released a statement acknowledging the crash and provided details about the pilot's condition.

An F-16 fighter jet crashed west of Holloman Air Force Base in New Mexico on Tuesday and the pilot safely ejected. Fighting Falcon went down near White Sands National Park shortly before noon. The pilot was the only person aboard and was taken by ambulance to a hospital for medical care, authorities say.

The service member was treated and discharged from the hospital with minor injuries. Dangerous chemicals were discovered on the aircraft. Efforts to dispose of these substances and clear the wreckage are still underway.

All non-emergency personnel were being told to avoid the crash site to prevent possible exposure to hazardous chemicals aboard the downed plane - Holloman base command recommended in its brief statement.

Social media has been abuzz with videos capturing the moment of the crash. The videos show the aircraft in flight before it abruptly began to plummet.

The aircraft involved in the incident was the standard single-engine Lockheed Martin F-16 fighter, assigned to the 49th Wing of the US Air Force at Holloman military base. It is the primary fighter jet used by various NATO members.