UPDATE: Beauregard sheriff says fighter jet crashed on private timber property

Published 5:01 pm Wednesday, March 23, 2022

An Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed south of DeRidder Wednesday afternoon in a wooded area, according to authorities.

Beauregard Parish Sheriff Mark Herford said the military aircraft crashed off of Bertrand Road on private timber property, but caused no serious property damage.

The pilot of the jet was able to safely eject from the aircraft before the crash and was recovered with no serious injuries, authorities said.

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Fort Polk officials identified the pilot as being assigned to the 138th Fighter Wing of the Oklahoma Air National Guard, headquartered in Tulsa.

“The pilot and aircraft were taking part in a routine training mission that departed from Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Texas,” Fort Polk officials stated in a release.

The investigation into the crash is being handled by Air Force authorities.