Air Force Pilot Ejected To Safety Before Buckeye Plane Crash

GOODYEAR, AZ — A Luke Air Force Base pilot safely ejected from their plane Thursday morning before it crashed in an unpopulated area in Goodyear, according to a news release from the base.

What caused the Mirage F1 fighter plane to crash 15 miles northwest of the base at 11:11 a.m. Thursday was unclear several hours after the crash, Air Force officials said.

"Our airmen and partners are our most important resource and we are committed to conducting our mission to train the world's greatest fighter pilots as safely as possible," said Brigadier Gen. Gregory Krueder, 56th Figher Wing Commander in the news release. "We are thankful for the continued outstanding support Luke receive from our community partners, especially during difficult situations like this. Finally, I'm grateful nobody was hurt on the ground and the pilot was safely recovered with only minor injuries."