USAF F-16 Crashes At Spangdahlem Air Base In Germany

Published Sep 22, 2026 11:38 AM EDT

(U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Albert Morel)

The pilot of a U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 52nd Fighter Wing safely ejected before the aircraft crashed at Spangdahlem Air Base in Germany, according to the wing.

The pilot is still receiving medical treatment, the wing said in a statement. Emergency response teams are still on the scene. The cause of the incident, which took place about 2:30 p.m. local time, is still under investigation and additional details will be released when available.

The crash happened as the jet was on approach to land at the installation, located in the western German region of Rhineland-Palatinate, according to the New York Post .

“Following a plane crash in the vicinity of U.S. Air Base Spangdahlem, fire and emergency response teams from the Eifel District of Bitburg-Pruem were dispatched to the scene,” The Associated Press reported , citing the district said on its website.

Images emerged on social media showing smoke rising in the distance.

An F-16 fighter jet has reportedly crashed at the U.S. Spangdahlem Air Base in western Germany on Tuesday afternoon. Witnesses reported seeing a jet rapidly descend before a large column of black smoke appeared near the runway. Local reports say two aircraft had taken off and… pic.twitter.com/MB4S6zKQm5 — Clash Report (@clashreport) September 22, 2026

An F-16 fighter jet has reportedly crashed at the U.S. Spangdahlem Air Base in western Germany on Tuesday afternoon. Witnesses reported seeing a jet rapidly descend before a large column of black smoke appeared near the runway. Local reports say two aircraft had taken off and… pic.twitter.com/MB4S6zKQm5

The F-16 crash at Spangdahlem was the second mishap in a week for USAF F-16s. On Sept. 17, an F-16 from the 149th Fighter Wing at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland in Texas crashed. The pilot in that incident also ejected.

According to air traffic control (ATC) audio, the pilot’s wingman said at the time of the Michigan crash, “we have a possible mayday. My wingman may have taken a bird.” TWZ cannot independently confirm what caused the crash. The audio continues and offers a fairly dramatic and raw look at how the incident occurred over the air waves.

F-16 crash ATC audio, BUCK 11 flt x2 F-16s were flying along the VFR low level route VR634 when the 11 advised MINNEAPOLIS CENTER that his wingman may have hit a bird and was going to eject just south of Traverse City, Michigan Audio via @liveatc https://t.co/sUR7KZBR2j pic.twitter.com/QdcE4ePiUd — Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) September 17, 2026

F-16 crash ATC audio, BUCK 11 flt x2 F-16s were flying along the VFR low level route VR634 when the 11 advised MINNEAPOLIS CENTER that his wingman may have hit a bird and was going to eject just south of Traverse City, Michigan Audio via @liveatc https://t.co/sUR7KZBR2j pic.twitter.com/QdcE4ePiUd

This is a developing story.

Contact the author: howard@twz.com

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发布于美国东部时间2026年9月22日上午11:38

（美国空军一等兵阿尔伯特·莫雷尔摄）

据美国空军第52战斗机联队称，一架隶属于该联队的美国空军F-16“战隼”战斗机的飞行员在飞机于德国施潘达勒姆空军基地坠毁前安全弹射逃生。

该机队在一份声明中表示，飞行员仍在接受治疗。应急救援小组仍在现场。事故发生在当地时间下午2点30分左右，事故原因仍在调查中，如有更多细节，将予以公布。

据《纽约邮报》报道，这架喷气式飞机在接近位于德国西部莱茵兰-普法尔茨州的军事基地准备降落时坠毁。

据美联社报道，艾费尔地区比特堡-普吕姆在其网站上表示：“在美军施潘达勒姆空军基地附近发生飞机坠毁事故后，该地区的消防和应急响应小组被派往现场。”

社交媒体上出现了远处冒烟的图片。

据报道，周二下午，一架F-16战斗机在德国西部的美军施潘达勒姆空军基地坠毁。目击者称，他们看到一架飞机迅速下降，随后跑道附近出现一股浓浓的黑烟。当地报道称，当时有两架飞机起飞…… pic.twitter.com/MB4S6zKQm5 — Clash Report (@clashreport) September 22, 2026

据报道，周二下午，一架F-16战斗机在德国西部的美军施潘达勒姆空军基地坠毁。目击者称，他们看到一架喷气式飞机迅速下降，随后跑道附近出现一股浓浓的黑烟。当地报道称，当时有两架飞机起飞…… pic.twitter.com/MB4S6zKQm5

斯潘达勒姆空军基地发生的F-16坠毁事故是美国空军F-16战机一周内发生的第二起事故。9月17日，驻扎在德克萨斯州圣安东尼奥-拉克兰联合基地的第149战斗机联队的一架F-16战机坠毁，该起事故中的飞行员也成功弹射逃生。

根据空中交通管制（ATC）录音，飞行员的僚机在密歇根州坠机时曾说：“我们可能收到求救信号。我的僚机可能撞上了鸟。” TWZ 无法独立确认坠机原因。录音继续播放，相当真实地展现了事件在空中发生的经过。

F-16坠机事故空管录音，BUCK 11飞行队的2架F-16战机沿VR634目视飞行规则低空航线飞行时，11号战机向明尼阿波利斯空管中心报告称，其僚机可能撞到鸟，准备弹射逃生，事发地点位于密歇根州特拉弗斯城以南。录音来自@liveatc https://t.co/sUR7KZBR2j pic.twitter.com/QdcE4ePiUd — Thenewarea51 (@thenewarea51) September 17, 2026

F-16 坠机空管录音，BUCK 11 飞行队的 2 架 F-16 战机当时正沿目视飞行规则 (VFR) 低空航线 VR634 飞行，其中 11 号战机向明尼阿波利斯空管中心报告称，其僚机可能撞到鸟，准备弹射逃生，事发地点位于密歇根州特拉弗斯城以南。录音来自 @liveatc https://t.co/sUR7KZBR2j pic.twitter.com/QdcE4ePiUd

这是一个正在发展中的新闻。

联系作者：howard@twz.com

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