Contractor killed, Airman injured by F-16 shooting targets during training

One civilian contractor is dead and an active duty airman is injured in a training accident on a military range in the White Sands of New Mexico.

Holloman Air Force Base public affairs said in a statement that the Tuesday night accident involved members of a ground-control party being hit as two F-16 Fighting Falcon jets used unspecified air-to-ground munitions at the Red Rio Range, located within the White Sands Missile Range complex near the base.

The incident occurred at approximately 7:30 p.m. local time, according to the statement. Both affected ground personnel were medically evacuated to Gerald Champion Regional Medical Center, where the contractor was pronounced dead at approximately 9 p.m. The airman was released after being treated.

An investigation has begun and in the “fact finding” stage according to the release.

Holloman’s wing commander offered his condolences calling the accident a tragedy.

“Our hearts go out to all those touched by the tragedy that occurred last night,” said Col. Houston Cantwell, 49^th Wing Commander. “We are committed to supporting those affected and hold them in our thoughts and prayers.”

The F-16s involved are assigned to the 54^th Fighter Group, a geographically separated unit, from Luke AFB, Az.

The injured service member is assigned to the 7th Air Support Operations Squadron at Fort Bliss, Texas, a geographically separated unit assigned to the 93rd Air Ground Operations Wing located at Moody AFB, Georgia, according to the Associated Press.

The victims’ identities have not been released.

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