TRONA, Calif. (AP) — A fighter jet with the Air Force’s elite Thunderbirds demonstration squadron crashed in the Southern California desert Wednesday, but the pilot managed to eject safely, the military said.

Video captured the dramatic moments where a pilot parachuted to the ground just after a fighter jet with the Air Force’s elite Thunderbirds squadron crashed in Southern California. The Air Force says the incident happened during a training mission and the cause of the crash is still under investigation.

The U.S. Air Force took delivery of its 99th and 100th KC-46A Pegasus air-refueling tankers at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, Calif.

The pilot safely ejected from the aircraft and was in stable condition, according to U.S. Air Force Sgt. Jovante Johnson. The F-16C Fighting Falcon was assigned to the Air Force Thunderbirds, an aerial acrobatic demonstration team based at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, Johnson said in an email.

The 99th Flying Training Squadron will soon begin integrating the T-7A Red Hawk as the primary trainer for Air Force pilots.

The following is the Nov. 28, 2025, Congressional Research Service in focus report U.S. Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft. From the Report The U.S. Air Force is developing a new type of uncrewed weapon system called Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA).

Gen. Ken Wilsbach promotes nuclear “recapitalization,” fueling fear of a radical shift away from nukes acting solely as deterrence.

CAS Aneke orders probe after Air Force pilots eject from malfunctioning Alpha Jet during test flight in Niger State.

A Thunderbird pilot is safe after crashing an F-16C Fighting Falcon during a training mission near the Trona Airport in Southern California on Wednesday, the U.S. Air Force confirmed.

“The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) commends the exceptional bravery and professionalism of its Alpha Jet pilots who safely ejected following an in-flight emergency during a post-inspection functional check flight today, 6 December 2025, at Nigerian Air Force Base Kainji,” Ejodame said.

The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) has said that its aircraft flew to the neighbouring Republic of Benin on Sunday in line with ECOWAS protocols and the Standby