Only five of the six Thunderbirds jet returned to base this morning after training mission near Trona Airport.
December 3, 2025 – An F-16C Fighting Falcon assigned to the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds demonstration team crashed today during a routine training mission over the remote desert airspace of California. The pilot successfully ejected and is reported to be in stable condition.
The incident occurred at approximately 10:45 a.m. Pacific Time in controlled airspace near the Trona Airport, about 27 miles northeast of the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake.
Pilot Stable, Investigation Underway
According to a statement released by the Air Force, the pilot—the sole occupant of the aircraft—ejected safely before the jet impacted the unpopulated area. The pilot received immediate medical attention and is now receiving follow-on care.
The Air Force confirmed that six Thunderbird jets departed their base that morning for the training mission, with only five returning safely following the incident.
The Thunderbirds, officially the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Squadron, conduct winter training maneuvers from their home base at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, which is approximately 117 miles from the crash site.
“On December 3, 2025, at approximately 10:45 a.m., a Thunderbird pilot ejected safely from an F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft during a training mission over controlled airspace in California,” the Air Force confirmed. “The pilot is in stable condition and receiving follow-on care.”
The Location: China Lake Training Range
The crash occurred within a designated military training area, a vast, unpopulated stretch of high desert frequently used by all services for flight operations and live weapons testing. Its proximity to Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, one of the U.S. Navy’s largest landholdings, underscores the area’s critical role in military readiness and training.
The cause of the crash has not yet been determined. The Air Force has secured the area, and an investigation into the circumstances of the mishap is now underway.
Further information regarding the incident, the pilot’s name, and the preliminary findings will be released by the 57th Wing Public Affairs Office as the investigation proceeds.
