A U.S. Air Force F-16C belonging to the elite Thunderbirds demonstration squadron crashed during a training mission in the Southern California desert on Wednesday morning, with the pilot managing to eject before impact. The crash occurred around 10:45 a.m. Pacific time near Trona Airport in San Bernardino County.

Military officials confirmed that the pilot successfully ejected from the aircraft and suffered non-life-threatening injuries. They were transported to a hospital in Ridgecrest, where they remain in stable condition. Video footage from the area showed the jet erupting in a mid-air explosion before the pilot’s parachute deployed, descending over a remote mining zone south of Trona.

Fire crews responded quickly to the crash site, and authorities reported no injuries or risk to people on the ground due to the isolated nature of the area. The Thunderbirds have launched an investigation into the incident. Early local reports suggest a possible engine malfunction, though officials have stated that no cause has been confirmed at this stage.

The Thunderbirds, known for their precision aerial demonstrations, regularly conduct rigorous training flights. Wednesday’s crash marks a significant incident for the squadron, which rarely experiences catastrophic aircraft failures during scheduled exercises. Further updates are expected as the investigation continues.