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Flying operations resume at Holloman Air Force Base following F-16C crash

Capt. Spencer "Memphis" Bell, 40th Flight Test Squadron Pilot and Tech. Sgt. John Raven, 40th FLTS Photographer fly near White Sands National Monument near Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, Apr. 24, 2019. This was the first time this AIM-9X was used against a QF-16. (U.S. Air Force photo by Mr. Don Allen)

Holloman Air Force Base officials said normal flying operations resumed Wednesday at the base following the crash of an F-16C Viper on Monday.

Officials said the pilot and plane assigned to the 49th Wing were on a routine training mission that day, and were in the process of landing when the plane left the runway.

The pilot, who was tho only person on board, ejected successfully and was treated for minor injuries.

“The pilot did exactly what he was supposed to do in this situation,” Col. Ryan Keeney, 49th Wing commander said. “He followed the emergency procedures he learned in training, where we focus on teaching the students to do the ordinary extraordinarily well.”

Flying operations were on a temporary, partial stand-down Tuesday for the safety of the airfield and aircrew.

According to a news release from the base, there does not appear that there are any fleet-wide issues related to the crash.

An investigation is still ongoing.

In October 2019, Holloman Air Force Base reported an F-16 crashed about 80 miles from the base.

In that incident, the pilot sustained minor injuries and was treated. the fighter jet was assigned to the 49th Wing.

In June 2018 a A-29 Super Tucano crashed over the Red Rio Bombing Range on White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) while on a training flight as part of the Air Force’s Light Attack Experiment.

In that incident one crew member was treated for minor injuries, but Lt. Christopher Carey Short, of Canandaigua, New York died while piloting the aircraft.

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