A U.S. F-16 crashed during an evening takeoff near Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan.

The Air Force confirmed that the pilot safely ejected and was rescued by coalition forces. The pilot has been evaluated by medical personnel at the Craig Joint Theater Hospital at Bagram, but it was not immediately clear if the pilot has been released from care.

The state of the aircraft, assigned to the 455th Air Expeditionary Wing, is also unknown.

Enemy fire was not a factor in the crash, according to a statement from the base.

Fighting Falcons stationed at Bagram are responsible for providing a 24-hour watch for ground units, as well as close-air support in Afghanistan.

The crash is under investigation.

Air Force Times will update this story as more information becomes available.

Oriana Pawlyk covers deployments, cyber, Guard/Reserve, uniforms, physical training, crime and operations in the Middle East, Europe and Pacific for Air Force Times. She was the Early Bird Brief editor in 2015. Email her at opawlyk@airforcetimes.com.

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