An F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed into a warehouse just west of March Air Reserve Base in Moreno Valley Thursday while departing the airfield, where the pilot safely ejected before his plane went down, but at least one person was injured on the ground.
The injured person was taken to Riverside University Medical Center. NBC4 reported the patient was an employee of a company housed in the warehouse, and was seriously hurt.
The pilot was able to walk following the ejection, according to reports from the scene. It could not be immediately confirmed whether he was taken to a hospital to be checked out.
There was also no word on what might have caused the crash. Witnesses reported seeing the jet shutter and roll moments before it plummeted earthward.
The F-16 went down about 3:45 p.m. and crashed into the See Water Inc. warehouse at 22220 Opportunity Way, near Meridian Parkway, in the Arnold Heights neighborhood just off of Interstate 215, according to the Riverside County Fire Department.
A battalion chief confirmed that the F-16 was carrying ordnance, prompting a hazardous materials response. The entire neighborhood was cordoned off, and occupants of surrounding buildings were ordered to shelter in place.
The California Highway Patrol shut down both sides of I-215 for public safety, in case of explosions. The Metrolink tracks paralleling the freeway were also closed.
The F-16 punched a huge hole in the roof of the 500,000-square-foot building, causing a fire that triggered the on-site sprinkler system, which contained the flames, according to reports from the scene.
The structure is stacked with plastic pipes, aluminum awnings and other materials, according to the CHP, which received the 911 calls.
March is home to the 452nd Air Mobility Wing, an Air Force Reserve component that utilizes mammoth C-17 transports, KC-135 refueling tankers and C-130 transports.
Fighter jets are a rare sight at the base.
It was unclear whether the aircraft that crashed was part of a reserve or active-duty unit.