Thunderbird F-16 Crashes in California, Pilot OK

An Air Force F-16 Thunderbird crashed Dec. 3 near Death Valley, Calif., with the pilot ejecting safely.

A video circulating on social media reportedly shows the immediate aftermath of the incident, with the F-16 exploding on impact in a fireball and the pilot drifting down with their parachute. Air & Space Forces Magazine has not independently verified the recording.

In a statement, the Thunderbirds—officially the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron—said the incident occurred at approximately 10:45 a.m. local time “during a training mission over controlled airspace in California.”

The San Bernardino County Fire Department confirmed on social media that the accident occurred near the Trona Airport.

“The pilot is in stable condition and receiving follow-on care,” the Thunderbirds statement noted, adding that the incident is under investigation.

News outlets and aviation spotters responding to the crash posted images of the charred wreckage.

Flying over the F16 Thunderbird crash today near Trona Airport. Pilot ejected safely sustaining minor injuries. pic.twitter.com/b1U4iF6y5M

— Josh Zaida (@zaidanator) December 3, 2025

The Thunderbirds are the Air Force’s premiere aerial demo squad, regularly wowing crowds at airshows with tightly choreographed, high-speed and high-G routines.

That kind of flying is high-risk. Past Thunderbirds accidents include:

In 2018, Maj. Stephen Del Bagno died when his F-16 crashed over the Nevada Test and Training Range during a routine training flight.
In 2017, a pilot was injured while landing at an airshow in Ohio.
In 2016, another pilot was injured after he crashed in a field near Colorado Springs, Colo., after performing at the U.S. Air Force Academy graduation.,