A U.S. Air Force T-38C Talon II jet trainer crashed outside Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi, Wednesday morning, base officials have confirmed.
Both pilots were able to eject safely from the aircraft, according to an Air Force press release.
The aircraft crashed at about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in a remote area near Columbus Air Force Base.
Local law enforcement and first responders arrived on the scene shortly after the crash and both pilots were transported to a local hospital for evaluation.
The first responders were able to extinguish a fire that resulted from the impact, and secured the area, according to base officials.
There are no houses or other structures in the immediate area of the crash, according to the Air Force.
RELATED
Aviation in Crisis
“Additional details will be provided as soon as they become available,” Air Force officials said in their statement.
The T-38C Talon II is a is a twin-engine, high-altitude, supersonic jet trainer used in a variety of roles. However, Air Education and Training Command primarily uses the T-38 for joint specialized undergraduate pilot training, which is held at several Air Force installations, including Columbus.
Kyle Rempfer was an editor and reporter who has covered combat operations, criminal cases, foreign military assistance and training accidents. Before entering journalism, Kyle served in U.S. Air Force Special Tactics and deployed in 2014 to Paktika Province, Afghanistan, and Baghdad, Iraq.
