F-16 catches fire, crashes during takeoff in Houston

An F-16 fighter jet caught fire Wednesday while attempting to take off at Ellington Airport in Houston, according to the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).

Officials said the pilot ejected safely from the F-16 Fighting Falcon around 11:30 a.m. local time and “is being evaluated at a local medical facility.” The pilot’s name wasn’t immediately released.

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The F-16, which was on a training flight under NORAD, was from Oklahoma Air National Guard’s 138th Fighter Wing and stationed at Houston’s Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base.

The incident is under investigation.

UPDATE: F-16 stationed at Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Houston crashed on take-off during training flight; pilot safely ejected. pic.twitter.com/hWnhFJMlBf

— ABC News (@ABC) June 21, 2017