F-16 Incident – Update 10 a.m.

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A D.C. National Guard F-16

JOINT BASE ANDREWS, MD. (08/02/2013)(readMedia)-- Two single-seat F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft, assigned to the 113th Wing, D.C. Air National Guard, clipped wings Aug. 1. The aircraft were on a routine night training mission off the coast of Chincoteague, Va., approximately 70 miles southeast of Washington. The accident occurred over water at 10:28 p.m.

One pilot ejected from his aircraft safely and inflated his emergency raft. He was recovered by members of the U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Elizabeth City at 12:30 a.m. Aug. 2. The second pilot and aircraft was able to return to Joint Base Andrews without further incident.

"Our partners here at Joint Base Andrews and the Coast Guard did a fantastic job of supporting us through this unfortunate circumstance," said Brig.Gen. Marc Sasseville, 113th Wing Commander. "The military has some of the best and most highly-trained people in the world, which reduced the potential magnitude of this incident."

Both pilots were transported to Malcom Grow Medical Clinic and Surgery Center at Joint Base Andrews. One pilot has been evaluated and released and the second pilot was transferred to Bethesda Medical Center for further treatment of minor injuries.

"We are extremely fortunate to have lost only metal, and not the life of one of our Airmen," said Brig. Gen. Sasseville. "I wish a speedy recovery to our injured pilot."

The pilots' names are not being released at this time.

"Training is the foundation for everything we do," said Brig. Gen. Sasseville. "The mishap is under investigation and our findings will be used to continually improve our operations to provide the safest possible training."

As soon as more information is available, the 113th Wing will issue a follow-on release.

The 113th Wing, DC Air National Guard, provides air sovereignty forces to defend the Nation's Capital, and also provides fighter, airlift and support forces capable of local, national and global employment.