American F-16 fighter jet crashes near US air base in Germany, military says

An American F-16 fighter jet crashed near a U.S. air base in western Germany on Tuesday, according to military officials.

The pilot "ejected safely" and is receiving medical care, U.S. Air Base Spangdahlem said in a statement.

"Emergency response personnel are on scene," the statement said. "The cause of the incident is under investigation."

The fighter jet, assigned to the 52nd Fighter Wing, crashed at 2:30 p.m. local time. Smoke could be seen in video near the scene.

The news comes days after a separate Texas National Guard F-16 crash in Michigan last week.