F-16 Fighter Jet Crashes in San Bernardino County During Training Mission

San Bernardino County, CA — An F-16 Fighting Falcon military aircraft crashed Wednesday during a routine training mission near Trona Airport, close to the San Bernardino–Inyo County line, according to military officials.

The jet went down at approximately 10:45am, prompting an immediate emergency response from local fire crews, sheriff’s deputies, and federal authorities. Eyewitnesses reported seeing smoke rising from the remote desert area shortly after the aircraft disappeared from view.

Military officials confirmed that the aircraft was participating in a standard training exercise when the incident occurred. The condition of the pilot has not yet been publicly released pending notification of family and further investigation.

The crash site, located several miles outside Trona in rugged terrain, has since been secured by federal authorities. An Air Force safety investigation team is en route to determine the cause of the crash.

Local officials say there is no immediate threat to the public, and no structures were damaged as the aircraft went down in a sparsely populated area.

Residents in nearby communities may notice increased military and emergency presence over the next several days as the investigation continues and debris recovery operations begin.

News Blend 360 will provide updates as more information becomes available.