On Wednesday, a pilot from the U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds successfully ejected from an F-16C during a training exercise in California, emerging in stable condition. This incident, which has prompted an investigation by officials from the 57th Wing, occurred during a routine mission.

In a statement shared on social media, the Thunderbirds confirmed the event, stating, “On December 3, 2025, at approximately 10:45 a.m., a Thunderbird pilot ejected safely from an F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft over controlled airspace in California. The pilot is in stable condition and receiving follow-on care. The incident is under investigation and further information will be released by the 57th Wing Public Affairs Office.”

San Bernardino County Fire Department reported on social media platform X that their units responded to an aircraft emergency near the San Bernardino–Inyo county line at around 11:10 a.m.

Upon arrival, emergency crews from the San Bernardino County Fire assisted personnel from the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in extinguishing a fire that had ignited after the aircraft crashed in a dry lake bed near Trona.

The pilot, who was alone in the aircraft, was treated on-site for non-life-threatening injuries before being transported to a nearby hospital for further care.

The Air Force Thunderbirds perform at the 2024 Legacy of Liberty Airshow at Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo, N.M.  (Bill Chizek, Getty Images)

The Thunderbirds, stationed at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, are the Air Force’s premier aerial demonstration team and perform some of the service’s most demanding precision maneuvers.

The squadron flies F-16C Fighting Falcons in tightly choreographed formations that require year-round training and extensive flight hours to maintain.

The U.S. Air Force Thunderbirds perform a flyover prior to the start of the Daytona 500 at Daytona International Speedway, Feb. 19, 2023, in Daytona Beach, Fla. 

Pilots are drawn from operational fighter squadrons and often have combat experience before joining the unit.

They serve two-year tours on the demonstration team before returning to active fighter assignments, and their annual schedule includes dozens of air show performances across the country as part of the Air Force’s recruitment and community outreach mission.

The Thunderbirds have experienced mishaps during training in the past, including a 2018 crash near Nellis Air Force Base that killed Maj. Stephen Del Bagno during a routine training flight.

Fox News Digital previously reported that the Air Force conducted a safety review following the incident, which highlighted how the high-speed, high-G nature of the team’s routines carries inherent risk even in controlled environments.