A U.S. Air Force F-16C operated by the Thunderbirds air demonstration team crashed near Death Valley in California Wednesday morning. The pilot ejected and was taken to a local hospital for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries. The Air Force issued the following statement: “On December 3, 2025, at approximately 10:45 a.m., a Thunderbird pilot safely ejected from a F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft during a training mission over controlled airspace in California. The pilot is in stable condition and receiving follow-on care. The incident is under investigation and further information will be released from the 57th Wing Public Affairs Office.” Bystander video showed the pilot descending under canopy. Early reports say it was Thunderbird 5 that crashed. More details will be released as they are available.
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So glad he’s safe. That chute looked like it had a pretty good GS. A Blue Angel crashed at our local airport here a few years ago. Bottom of a loop, flew into the ground. I saw a series about them later. Said that is one of their most dangerous maneuvers. Said coming down the backside of a loop, the plane accelerates and very easy to misjudge the pullout which is gong to be very low. Also the pilot is right on the edge of passing out from the Gs. And if he/she does, that’s it. That may have been what happened.