---
title: "Thunderbirds F-16C Fighting Falcon Crashes in California"
date: "2025-12-03"
modified: "2025-12-03"
authors:
  - name: "Howard Altman"
    job_title: "Senior Staff Writer"
    link: "https://www.twz.com/authors/howard-altman.md"
url: "https://www.twz.com/air/thunderbirds-f-16c-fighting-falcon-crashes-in-california"
categories:
  - "Air"
  - "Americas"
  - "Around The Globe"
  - "F-16"
  - "Fighters"
  - "News & Features"
  - "U.S. Homeland"
---

# Thunderbirds F-16C Fighting Falcon Crashes in California

![A Thunderbirds F-16C FIghting Falcon crashed in California, the pilot survived.](<https://www.twz.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/TBIRDcrash.jpg>)
*(U.S. Space Force photo by Dalton Prejeant)*

An Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon belonging to the [Thunderbirds aerial demonstration team](<https://www.airforce.com/thunderbirds/overview>) crashed this afternoon in California, the Air Force said.

"On December 3, 2025, at approximately 10:45 a.m., a Thunderbird pilot safely ejected from a F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft during a training mission over controlled airspace in California," according to a statement from the 57th Wing Public Affairs Office. "The pilot is in stable condition and receiving follow-on care."

"The incident is under investigation and further information will be released from the 57th Wing Public Affairs Office," the statement continued.

Video and images emerging from the scene show the aftermath of the crash and the pilot parachuting to the ground.

https://twitter.com/OC_Scanner/status/1996315926917247393?s=20

https://twitter.com/Globalrepport/status/1996307586862178369

https://twitter.com/JarodMHamilton/status/1996304904277942696?s=20

https://twitter.com/kelvinkccheng/status/1996302383215955989?s=20

The San Bernardino County Fire Department confirmed to us that they are assisting China Lake Naval Air Station's emergency response efforts of a downed aircraft.

"We are assisting China Lake with fire suppression on a downed aircraft in a dry lakebed in an area we respond to," spokesman Ryan Beckers told us.

Beckers said the department received the call about the crash at 10:30 a.m. local time.

This is a developing story.

*Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com*

## Author
Howard is a Senior Staff Writer for *TWZ*. He writes frequently about conflict, focusing heavily on the Middle East and Ukraine, and interviews with military and intelligence officials and industry leaders from around the globe. He lives near Tampa, Florida, home of U.S. Central Command, U.S. Special Operations Command.

### Author social links  
[Twitter](<https://twitter.com/haltman>)  
[LinkedIn](<https://www.linkedin.com/in/howardaltman/>)