Pilot Killed in Fighter Jet Crash at Shaw Air Force Base

Pilot Killed in Fighter Jet Crash at Shaw Air Force Base
Four F-16's from the 79th Fighter Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base fly over during pre race ceremonies at the NASCAR Winston Cup Series Daytona 500 at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla., on Feb. 16, 2003. (Robert Laberge/Getty Images)
The Associated Press
7/1/2020
Updated:
7/1/2020

SUMTER, S.C.—A military pilot has died in the crash of a fighter jet during a training mission at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina.

20th Fighter Wing Commander Larry Sullivan confirmed the pilot’s death early morning on July 1.

Four F-16’s from the 77th Fighter Squadron of Shaw Air Force Base fly over during prerace ceremonies for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, S.C., on May 12, 2012. (Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR)
Four F-16’s from the 77th Fighter Squadron of Shaw Air Force Base fly over during prerace ceremonies for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Bojangles' Southern 500 at Darlington Raceway in Darlington, S.C., on May 12, 2012. (Geoff Burke/Getty Images for NASCAR)

The crash happened on the military base around 11:30 p.m. Tuesday, news outlets reported.

Base officials said the pilot was performing a routine training mission in a F-16CM Fighting Falcon when the jet crashed. The pilot was the only person on board.

The cause of the crash is under investigation. The name of the pilot wasn’t immediately released.