U.S. F-16 crashes in east Germany, pilot ejected safely

ENGELMANNREUTH, Germany, Aug. 11 (UPI) -- A pilot successfully ejected from a U.S. F-16 before it crashed early Tuesday in wooded area in Germany's Bavaria province.

The fighter jet departed from the U.S. Spangdahlem Air Base near Trier in west Germany and crashed in the county of Bayreuth while on a training mission for the U.S. Army Garrison Bavaria, near the city of Grafenwöhr in east Germany.

"The pilot safely ejected and jettisoned fuel tanks over an unpopulated area. The pilot is being treated at a local hospital," Spangdahlem Air Base said in a statement. "The aircraft was carrying six 25-pound training munitions. There were no live munitions on board."

An investigation into the cause of the crash has been launched. Spangdahlem's 52nd Fighter Wing has cancelled flying operations for 24 hours for safety reasons.