US F-16 reportedly crashes near American air base in Germany

A US fighter jet has reportedly crashed near Spangdahlem Air Base in western Germany, leaving one person injured, initial reports stated.

German broadcaster n-tv reported that a US F-16 fighter jet crashed near the American military facility on Tuesday, citing local authorities.

Residents in the area reported seeing “a large plume of black smoke” following the incident, according to n-tv.

Local authorities confirmed that one person had been injured, although further details about their condition were not immediately available.

The exact location and circumstances of the crash were also unclear, and officials had not confirmed what caused the aircraft to go down.

Spangdahlem Air Base is a major US military installation in the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate and hosts US Air Force operations in Europe.

Initial reports identified the aircraft as an F-16 fighter jet, but the type of aircraft involved had not been officially confirmed.

There was also no immediate information about whether anyone else was on board or whether there were injuries on the ground.

Emergency services were responding to the incident as authorities worked to establish further details.