A Thunderbird fighter aircraft crashed south of Colorado springs immediately after the fleet it was part of had performed at the Air Force Academy’s graduation.
Pilot ejected and there are no reports of other injuries, according to Air Force spokeswoman Lt. Col. Michal Kloeffler-Howard.
The crash occurred on Thursday around 1:30 p.m. local time 15 miles south of the academy, and may have been caused by engine failure.
The crash happened just after the Thunderbirds gave a performance for the Air Force Academy’s graduation in north Colorado Springs, where President Obama was giving a commencement speech. The president was still at the graduation site at the time of the crash.
“I can confirm the pilot was safely ejected,” Maj. William Russell said, according to the Denver Post.
The Thunderbirds confirmed on Twitter that nobody was hurt and that there was “no hazard to the public.”
No one was hurt on the ground and here is no hazard to the public.
— Thunderbirds (@AFThunderbirds) June 2, 2016
Via RT. This piece was reprinted by RINF Alternative News with permission or license.