Military officials confirm a single F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft crashed Wednesday night in southern Arizona.
According to an Arizona Air National Guard statement, the pilot flying with the 162nd Wing Arizona Air National Guard was the only person on board during the night training mission.
A spokesman for the Iraqi defense minister says an Iraqi pilot who has been training in the United States for four years was flying the aircraft.
Iraq's Defense Ministry and the Arizona Air National Guard didn't have information on the fate of the pilot, who was the only person aboard when the plane went down during a Wednesday night training mission.
Brig. Gen. Tahseen Ibrahim, the ministry spokesman, says the Iraqi government has not heard what caused the crash.
Angel Ortega, of Douglas, said he heard a loud explosion and initially thought it was thunder before he saw the smoke.
Cochise County Sheriff's Department spokeswoman Carol Capas tells the Arizona Daily Star that the plane ruptured a gas line and sparked a fire, which "is almost out." Once the flames are extinguished, officials will be able to assess the damage.
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Capas tells The Associated Press that the crash started a grass fire that covered about 400 yards.
A board will be appointed to investigate the incident.
