US F-16 Jet Destroyed in Ground Fire in Southwest Asia

An F-16 Fighting Falcon launches electronic countermeasure flares following an aerial refueling mission over Iraq. F-16s provide armed aerial overwatch and is a compact, multirole fighter aircraft with high maneuverability. (Defense Department photo.)

Dispatches from the Front:

SOUTHWEST ASIA, Nov. 12, 2008 -- An F-16 Fighting Falcon caught fire after the pilot aborted the takeoff at about 5:40 a.m. Baghdad time Nov. 12 at an air base in Southwest Asia.

The pilot, who ground egressed the aircraft, was taken to the Air Force Theater Hospital on base for evaluation and had no apparent injuries.

The fire was contained to the area adjacent to the runway. The F-16 was destroyed in the fire. The aircraft was assigned to the 332 Air Expeditionary Wing from Joint Base Balad, Iraq.

A safety board will be convened to investigate the incident.

(Report from a U.S. Air Force news release.)

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