Thunderbirds F-16 Fighter Jet Crashes in California — Pilot Survives Published by AHA Apex Wing Overview A United States Air Force Thunderbirds F-16C Fighting Falcon was involved in a crash during a routine training mission in California. The aircraft went down in a remote section of the Mojave Desert, an area frequently used for military flying operations because of its open space and controlled airspace. Thanks to the aircraft’s ejection system and quick emergency response, the pilot survived and was transported for medical evaluation. The Incident According to early information released by the Air Force, the jet encountered an emergency situation during a training flight and the pilot was forced to eject. The parachute deployed normally, and the pilot landed safely before being picked up by rescue teams. The aircraft itself was destroyed on impact, creating a visible debris field across the desert terrain. No civilians on the ground were harmed, and the crash did not ...

In a groundbreaking demonstration earlier this year, a U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor pilot remotely controlled an MQ-20 Avenger combat drone directly from the fighter’s cockpit during a simulated combat mission. The trial, revealed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems during the Dubai Airshow 2025, marks a major milestone in the evolution of crewed-uncrewed teaming (C-U-T) and the future of air combat autonomy. A conceptual view of the groundbreaking C-U-T demonstration, showing an F-22 pilot using a cockpit interface to remotely direct multiple MQ-20 Avenger drones during a simulated combat mission over the Nevada Test and Training Range. This capability is a major step toward future Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) integration. The test took place over the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) and was supported by Lockheed Martin and L3Harris . The mission showcased how a single-seat fighter pilot can command a high-performance autonomous drone alongside their own aircraft in...