Pilot Ejects From Plane At Ellington Airport After It Caught Fire

By THC Staff | June 23, 2017

 

KSAT reports that Wednesday, June 21 at Ellington Airport in Houston, an F-16 jet caught fire as it was taking off. The pilot had to eject himself as black smoke billowed out from the aircraft. Once the pilot was safely taken to get medical help for minor injuries, the worry turned to what would happen to the enflamed plane.

The risk of the ammunition exploding lead to the evacuation of every building within a 4,000 square foot radius and the shutting down of Beltway 8 between Crenshaw and Galveston Road for six hours. Luckily, the situation was contained quickly.

Colonel Matthew Barker, Vice Wing Commander of the 147th Attack Wing wanted to publicly commend the local police and fire department. “Their quick action mitigated further damage, protected our military members, and protected our community from harm,” he said. According to the Houston Chronicle, more details about the event still have not been released, but the plane was taking off as part of a NORAD training mission.

Ellington Airport is located in southeast Houston. It holds the Houston Spaceport and is “used by the United States military, NASA, and general aviation tenants, with the exception of commercial airlines.”