11/12/2008 - SOUTHWEST ASIA -- A United States Air Force F-16 assigned to the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing, Joint Base Balad, Iraq, caught fire after the pilot aborted the takeoff, at about 5:40 a.m. Baghdad time.
The fire was contained adjacent to the runway, and the pilot, who ground egressed the aircraft, was taken to the Air Force Theater Hospital on base for evaluation. The pilot had no apparent injuries.
The aircraft was destroyed in the fire. A safety board will be convened to investigate the incident.
For more information, contact U.S. Central Command Air Forces Public Affairs at 011-974-458-9855 and connect to 436-4381/4014/4379 or e-mail mu_afforpa@auab.centaf.af.mil.
