A US military aircraft crashed near Spangdahlem Air Base in western Germany on Tuesday, injuring the pilot, according to the US military.

The aircraft was an F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the US Air Force’s 52nd Fighter Wing. It crashed at around 2:30 p.m. local time, according to a statement from Spangdahlem Air Base.

The pilot ejected from the aircraft before the crash and was receiving medical treatment, the US military said. Officials did not immediately provide further details about the pilot’s condition.

The cause of the crash was not immediately known and was under investigation.

German fire and emergency services responded to the incident, according to the local district authorities.

Spangdahlem Air Base hosts an F-16 fighter squadron with about 20 aircraft, according to Germany’s dpa news agency. The squadron supports US Air Force and NATO operations around the world.

The base has approximately 5,000 military and civilian personnel as well as their families. Between 700 and 800 German employees also work at the facility.

The US Air Force has maintained a presence at Spangdahlem since the 1950s. Together with Ramstein Air Base near Kaiserslautern in southwestern Germany, Spangdahlem is considered an important US military facility in the region.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash.

SOURCE: The Associated Press, September 23, 2026.