Military Plane Crashes Near Clinton; What To Do With Debris

(UPDATED 2:01 p.m.) CLINTON, MD — WTOP reports that the plane appeared to be losing parts before the crash happened. Authorities will be conducting a joint briefing soon. Prince George's County Police issued the following alert: "Please call 301-981-2002 if you locate suspected debris from today's aircraft crash. Do Not Handle."

UPDATE 12:15 p.m.: Prince George's County Councilman Mel Franklin has issued the following statement:

“I am closely monitoring the crash of the military aircraft in Clinton just a few miles from Joint Base Andrews. I am pleased to hear that the pilot parachuted to safety with only non-life threatening injuries with no one hurt on the ground and that the crash occurred in a largely wooded area. Nonetheless, I know that the
residents that I represent in Clinton are alarmed by this accident and I encourage the affected residents to follow the direction of public safety personnel at the scene. Per the guidance of our public safety officers, if anyone in the community finds what they believe to be a part of the aircraft, do not touch or move it but please call Joint Base Andrews at 240-857-8685. Let’s continue to keep all of our military personnel and their families in our thoughts and prayers.”

UPDATE 10:39 a.m.: Reports now indicate that it was an F-16C aircraft that went down, not an F-15 as originally reported. Prince George's County Fire Department spokesman Mark Brady said that the crash happened in a wooded area 200 yards from any homes. He posted numerous videos of the crash site, but said he was ordered by Military Police to delete them.

PRINCE GEORGE'S COUNTY, MD -- A military aircraft has reportedly crashed near Temple Hills Road and Woodells Court in Prince George's County, according to Mark Brady, spokesman for the Prince George's County Fire Department.

One pilot is reported to have parachuted out of the plane before the crash.

NBC Washington says the plane was an F-16 National Guard aircraft. The accident happened about 9:30 a.m. and occurred several miles from Joint Base Andrews.

Brady told NBC in a phone interview as he drove to the scene that firefighters and military personnel have blocked access to the area and are evacuating some houses in the area as a precaution. There is no word on whether homes were damaged by the plane crash or fuel spill; and no word on the extent of the fire.

Military personnel picked up the injured pilot, Brady said.

Prince George's County Police tweeted at around 10:30 a.m. that road closures in the area could be lengthy, and that drivers should follow police direction.

The crash site is in a wooded area about 200 yards away from any homes. #PGFD. No injuries or damage reported on ground pic.twitter.com/hchnoB25xH
— Mark Brady (@PGFDPIO) April 5, 2017

Air Force Security & @PGPDNews blocking forest access near F-16 crash site in Clinton, Md #WTOP pic.twitter.com/kx4kaWQtcx
— Kristi King (@kingWTOP) April 5, 2017

#BREAKING PHOTOS from scene of fighter jet crash in Prince George's County: https://t.co/evZpKZUFZX pic.twitter.com/93nEeDtjHd
— ABC 7 News - WJLA (@ABC7News) April 5, 2017

Patch will update this breaking news story.