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On June 30th, a F-16 fighter jet crashed while on a routine training mission and the pilot died at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina.
Emergency crews on the runway at Shaw Air Force Base after a F16 crashed Tuesday night. The pilot was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. pic.twitter.com/umSpNMRV3G
— JR Berry WLTX ?? (@JRBerryWLTX) July 1, 2020
The jet, which was assigned to the 20th Fighter Wing and had only the pilot on board, crashed at approximately 11:30 p.m., according to a statement posted after midnight on June 30th on the base’s official Facebook page.
Update: Pilot confirmed deceased
The pilot of the F-16CM that crashed at approximately 2330 on June 30, 2020, during a routine training mission here at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., was pronounced dead. The name of the pilot is being withheld until 24 hours after next of kin notification. Out of respect and consideration for the family, we ask for your patience and to avoid speculation until we release more information.
Posted by Shaw Air Force Base on Wednesday, July 1, 2020
The cause of the crash remains unknown, even after the pilot was pronounced dead.
The initial statement by Shaw Air Force Base was the following:
“A U.S. Air Force F-16CM Fighting Falcon assigned to the 20th Fighter Wing, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. crashed at approximately 2330 yesterday, June 30, 2020, here on base. At the time of the accident, the aircraft was on a routine training mission with one pilot on board.
Shaw Air Force Base emergency responders are on scene. The cause of the crash, as well as the status of the pilot, are unknown at this time.
As soon as additional details become available, information will be provided.”
On June 15th, a F-15C fighter jet crashed off the coast of England while on a routine training mission and the pilot’s body was later recovered.
This most recent incident and the June 15th one were both fatal for the pilots, while several incidents earlier in 2020 took place, but the pilots survived. Throughout 2020 several F-35A fighter jets have crashed, as well as a F-22 fighter jet crash in May 2020.
In all of the previous incidents in the year the crew on board survived.
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