Eight U.S. airmen suffered minor injuries and at least one F-15E Strike Eagle was damaged in Monday's crash of a Greek F-16 at Los Llanos air base, Spain.
About 80 airmen from the 48th Fighter Wing and three F-15E Strike Eagles from the 492nd Fighter Squadron based at RAF Lakenheath, England, were taking part in a NATO training exercise at the Spanish base at the time of the crash, Staff Sgt. Thomas Trower, spokesman for the 48th, told Air Force Times on Tuesday.
The Greek aircraft A Greek F-16 taking part in a NATO training exercise crashed on takeoff on Monday, killing two both Greek airmen on board and nine French airmen on the ground, according to the Associated Press.
About 80 airmen from the 48th Fighter Wing and three F-15E Strike Eagles from the 492nd Fighter Squadron based at RAF Lakenheath,England, were taking part in the exercise at the time of the crash, Trower told Air Force Times on Tuesday.
The eight injured U.S. airmen were treated for scrapes, burns, smoke inhalation and other minor injuries. Trower said. One of the three U.S. aircraft participating in the exercise is known to be damaged, but U.S. airmen have been unable to look at it because the crash area has not been deemed safe. Another aircraft is too close to the crash site to determine if it has been damaged.
"We share in the sorrow felt by out NATO allies during this crisis, and our thoughts are with those who lost loved ones and comrades as a result of this tragic accident," Trower said.
