F-16 Crashes At Houston’s Ellington Field

HOUSTON, TX — An Oklahoma Air National Guard pilot who was on a training flight at Ellington Field, was forced to eject from his F-16 fighter Wednesday morning after the aircraft caught fire shortly after takeoff.

The pilot, who has not been identified, is part of a detachment of the 138th Fighter Wing from Tulsa, Oklahoma, stationed at Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base, officials said.

Ellington officials said the pilot, was on an official training mission, as part of the North American Aerospace Defense Command — NORAD — at the time of the accident, KPRC reported. (Want to get daily updates about traffic news and other events going on in your area? Sign up for the free Houston Patch morning newsletter.)

Because the aircraft was carrying military explosives at the time of the crash, Ellington Field was evacuated, and Harris County’s Office of Emergency Management elevated to a Level III status, KHOU reported.

Houston Police also blocked sections of Beltway 8 from Crenshaw to Old Galveston Road, because of the explosives the aircraft was carrying.

NORAD officials have not indicated what type of military ordnance was on the F-16, KPRC reported.

Personnel have been allowed to return while the crash is under investigation.

Ellington Field, which was formerly a U.S. Air Force Base, was purchased by the city of Houston in 1984 and is home to the Houston Spaceport.

Ellington also has several civilian aircraft and is widely used as a training facility by NASA and various military units.

Image: 138th Fighter Wing Air National Guard

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