NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — The Air Force says one of its jets crashed during a training mission in Utah this May because of an engine failure.
Details of the accident were released in a report Thursday by Air Combat Command at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Virginia.
The F-16C Falcon crashed about an hour after takeoff in the Utah Test and Training Range about 60 miles west of Salt Lake City. The pilot safely ejected, but the jet was destroyed on impact.
The Air Force says the engine failed because an 8-year-old fan blade broke free, causing catastrophic damage.
The Air Force values the loss at nearly $24 million.
The pilot and the jet were assigned to the 421st Fighter Squadron at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.
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