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D.C. Air National Guard F-16 crashes near Joint Base Andrews

Posted at 10:20 AM, Apr 05, 2017
and last updated 2017-04-05 11:57:13-04

A D.C. Air National Guard F-16C fighter jet crashed several miles outside Joint Base Andrews in Maryland on Wednesday

Joint Base Andrews tweeted that the jet was “flying along with other DCANG aircraft in a routine training mission” when the crash occurred.

The crash took place about six miles outside the base, which is located in Prince George’s County.

The pilot ejected in “an unpopulated area” and “is OK,” officials said.

Hyde Field/Washington Executive Airpark, a nearby general aviation airport, posted on social media that the pilot “came down on airport property…and is okay.”

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein addressed the incident at a House Armed Services hearing Wednesday morning.

“If you heard jet noises driving into the Capitol, it was likely the F-16s from the 113th Air National Guard Wing at Andrews,” Goldfein said. “I learned just walking in this morning that we lost an F-16 from that wing this morning. I’m proud to say at least the news reports are telling us the pilot got out and he’s OK.”

Lockheed Martin’s F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multi-role aircraft, built to carry out a variety of missions. The US Air Force currently has just over 1,000 F-16s in its inventory.

Known as the “Capital Guardians,” the 113th Fighter Wing is charged with defending the nation’s Capital and also provides fighter, airlift and support forces capable of local, national and global employment, according to the Air Force.

Stay with News 3 for more updates.