An F-16 jet fighter from the Air Force’s “Thunderbirds” flight demonstration team lost power and crashed into the desert about 120 miles west of Las Vegas last year because of misaligned fan blades in the engine, according to a recently released Air Force investigation into the mishap.
The pilot of the F-16CM Fighting Falcon jet sustained minor injuries in the Dec. 3, 2025, crash near Trona, California. It resulted in the complete loss of the $33.4 million aircraft.
There were no reports of other injuries or damage to civilian property, officials with Air Force Combat Command said last week…