The pilot escaped via the ejection seat and is being treated for minor injuries at a nearby hospital. The US Air Force confirmed it was one of its F-16 fighter jets.
A US F-16 fighter jet taking off from the Spangdahlem air base.Image: picture-alliance/dpa/B. Roessler
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The plane crashed into a forested area outside the southwestern city of Trier near the Luxembourg border, with the pilot ejecting to safety.
The US Air Force confirmed that the plane is one of its F-16 fighter jets stationed at the US air base in Spangdahlem in Rhineland-Palatinate.
The cause of the crash is as yet unclear. The pilot was engaged in a routine training flight.
Authorities said the pilot was transported to a nearby hospital, but described the injuries as "minor."
Airplane fuel leaked
A large amount of jet fuel is said to have spilled out at the site of the crash and a search is underway to retrieve parts of the jet in the woodland near to Zemmer, a small town between Spangdahlem and Trier.
Immediately following the incident many roads were blocked off, aided by military police and the local fire service before officials from the US air base "took over," said the fire service.
There is no danger from the destroyed F-16.
The Air Force reports that a board of officers will investigate the cause of the accident.
At least 24 F-16 fighter jets and around 4,000 US troops are stationed at the Spangdahlem air base.
Commenting on the incident Chief Master Sgt. Christopher Ostrom said "We are happy that the pilot is okay."
Edgar Schmitt, the mayor of Zemmer expressed relief that the aircraft had not crashed in the town.
Second crash in months
This is the second instance of an accident involving military planes in Germany in recent months. In June, two German military jets collided during a flying mission in the northeastern state of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania.
One pilot escaped via the plane's ejection seat while the other was killed in the June crash.
The Ramstein air show disaster
In 1988, aircraft belonging to the Italian air force collided midair during a show at the Ramstein airbase in Germany. Seventy people died after a plane crashed into the crowd.
Image: picture-alliance/C. Daughty
Pierced heart
At the Ramstein airshow in 1988, the Italian air squad Frecce Tricolori attempted a maneuver called the "pierced heart" — a solo pilot intersects the course of five other jets flying directly towards each other at 600 kilometers-per-hour (370 miles-per-hour). The attempt failed disastrously as three planes collided in the air.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/Füger
Crowd catastrophe
After the collision, the plane crashed into the runway, sending its fuselage and a resulting fireball of jet fuel hurtling towards the crowd of 300,000 people. One of the other planes crashed beside the runway and the pilot died on impact. The third crashed into a medical helicopter — the pilot ejected but was killed on the runway before his parachute deployed.
Image: picture-alliance/AP
Scores killed
The plane crash killed 70 people (including the three pilots) and injured 1,500 others. The deceased are honored at a memorial outside of the airbase in Ramstein. Those mutilated by the debris or disfigured due to third-degree burns were only financially compensated after years of legal battles with authorities.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/O. Dietze
Italy responsible
The overall legal response to the disaster was underwhelming for many victims. The lead attorney responsible threw in the towel because, according to NATO rules, Italian authorities were responsible.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/C. Sokolowski
Split investigation
One year into its probe, the German parliament's Ramstein committee of inquiry was split into two factions that could not be reconciled: The Social Democrats (SPD) and a faction of Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) and Free Democrats (FDP). The committee issued two final reports, with the SPD saying the disaster was avoidable and the CDU/CSU and FDP saying the Italian pilot had fallen unconscious.
Image: picture-alliance/dpa/H. Sanden
Air shows
Immediately after the disaster, Bundestag politicians were unanimous in barring all airshows in Germany. It didn't take long for that mindset to change, with some arguing that tax payers had a right to see their country's armed forces. Germany has held numerous air shows since the 1990s.
Image: picture alliance/AP Photo
'We cannot undo what happened'
A memorial service marked the 30th anniversary of the airshow disaster. In attendance was Malu Dreyer, Rhineland Palatinate's state premier. "We cannot undo what happened, but we can remember, stand together and support each other," she said.
