US F-16 crashes near Las Vegas, third crash in two days

F-16 - aviationphotodigest.com

DAVID CHOI

• A US Air Force F-16 has crashed outside of Las Vegas in the third aircraft crash in two days.
• The status of the F-16's crew is unknown and emergency responders are at the scene.
• On Tuesday, a Marine Corps helicopter crashed in California and a Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier jet crashed in east Africa.

A US Air Force F-16 assigned to Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada has crashed outside of Las Vegas in the third aircraft crash in two days.

The status of the F-16's crew is unknown and emergency responders are at the scene, the Air Force confirmed in a statement.

"As soon as additional details become available, they will be provided," an Air Force statement said. "The accident is under investigation."

The F-16 crashed around 10:30 a.m. during routine training.

On Tuesday afternoon, a Marine Corps CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter crashed around El Centro, California, during a routine training mission. Four crew members aboard the helicopter were killed.

Additionally, a Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier jet crashed during a training exercise in Djibouti, east Africa on Tuesday. The pilot ejected and was being treated at a hospital.

Congress and the military have come under scrutiny amid the spate of aircraft crashes. Military leaders have long argued for an increased budget to combat a "readiness crisis" as foreign adversaries have gained momentum in other areas of the world.

Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Steven Rudder, the Corps' deputy commandant for aviation, said in November that although pilot and aircraft readiness was steadily improving, the Corps was still dealing with the effects of "the minimum requirement for tactical proficiency."

"Newly winged aviators ... [are] the foundation of the future of aviation," a prepared statement from Rudder said, according to Military.com. "When I compare these 2017 'graduates' of their first fleet tour to the 2007 'class,' those pilots today have averaged 20% less flight hours over their three-year tour than the same group in 2007."

Original post: aol.com

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