RIVERSIDE – (INT) – A military accident investigation team is probing the wreckage of the F-16 fighter jet that crashed into a warehouse adjacent to March Air Reserve Base (MARB).

Officials said Monday there is no immediate timeline for the removal of the wreckage.

MARB officials and the Air National Guard are meeting with community and business officials in the Meridian Business Park. All business in the immediate area have resumed normal operations with the exception of the warehouse on Opportunity Way where the F-16 crashed.

All streets, the I-215 freeway and the BNSF/Metrolink tracks were reopened last Friday.

The pilot who safely ejected from his crippled fighter is reported to be ‘at home and in good condition’ according to a statement from the 452nd Air Mobility Wing at MARB.

Initial indications were the inbound aircraft sustained a hydraulic malfunction before the pilot ejected and the jet plunged through the roof of the warehouse. The pilot was among 13 persons who survived with minor injuries. Most of the injured were inside the building.

A ‘standard weapons package’ including missiles was extracted from the wreckage and detonated Friday at the nearby Ben Clark Training Center.

The pilot was on a training mission for the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD).

Story Date: May 25, 2019