T-38 Talon training jet crashes in Oklahoma

An Air Force T-38 Talon stationed at Vance Air Force Base in Enid, Oklahoma, crashed at approximately 1:48 p.m. Friday local time, about 70 miles west of the base.

“At the time of the accident, the aircraft was performing a training mission,” according to a news release from the base. “One instructor pilot was on board and safely ejected. The pilot is conscious, was not seriously injured and is being evaluated by Air Force medical personnel.”

The aircraft was destroyed.

Vance AFB emergency response personnel are on site and have begun an accident investigation, according to base officials.

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 Vance.

The 71st Flying Training Wing at Vance trains more than 300 Air Force and allied student pilots each year. The base operates approximately 200 T-1 Jayhawk, T-6 Texan II and T-38 Talon aircraft, flying over 55,000 sorties and 81,000 hours every year.