US Air Force pilot dies in F-16 crash in Middle East

A U.S. Air Force pilot was killed when an F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed in a non-combat-related incident on Sunday, U.S. Central Command announced on Monday. The aircraft was returning to its base in the Middle East shortly after take-off, the statement said. The crash did not occur in Iraq or Syria, it said.
First responders remain on the scene, and the cause of the incident is under investigation, CENTCOM said. It is U.S. military policy to defer identification until 24 hours after next-of-kin notification. Additional details will be released when they become available, CENTCOM said.