Pilot of F-16 that crashed near March Air Reserve Base is doing well
The pilot of the F-16 that smashed Thursday afternoon into a warehouse near March Air Reserve Base is doing well and might have been already released from the hospital, an official said at a Friday morning press conference.
He was able to eject from the fighter jet and deploy a parachute.
Six responding officers and six civilians were taken to the hospital Thursday only as precaution, Cal Fire Chief Shawn Newman said, apparently over concerns of any exposure to hazardous materials.
The packing materials and boxes in the warehouse might have helped lessen damage and kept workers from getting hurt, he added.
215 Freeway remains closed, and Metrolink service impacted by F-16 crash near March Air Reserve Base
The evacuation perimeter is now about three-fours of a mile around where the jet plunged into the warehouse’s roof, taking in only businesses and no residences.
Few other details came out of the press conference held near the base and crash site.
So far, what weapons, if any, were in its fighter jet have not been revealed by the Air National Guard or any other government agency.
McNamara said the recovery process is very involved.
“We are working closely with first responders,” he said. pic.twitter.com/nlBh1H3O67
— Beatriz Valenzuela (@BeatrizVNews) May 17, 2019
Air Force Col. Thomas McNamara said the recovery process of the jet is very involved: “We are working closely with first responders.. …
“Anytime you work with an aircraft incident you have the potential dangers,” McNamara said.
Some materials have been removed, but he declined to say what they were.
An explosive-ordinance disposal team was on the scene.
Officials will hold another press conference at 3:30 p.m. Friday, May 17. The Southern California News Group will then report on any new information.