United States Air Force pilot killed in F-16 crash

A US Air Force Thunderbirds pilot has been killed as his F-16 jet crashed at Nellis Air Force Base outside of Las Vegas, on Wednesday.

The pilot's identity was being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

The jet crashed during routine training on the Nevada test and training range, CNN reported, citing the US Air Force, as saying in a statement.

The cause of the crash was not immediately known and the Accident Investigation Board of the Air Force was investigating.

According to the reports, the incident marks the third crash of a US military aircraft since Tuesday.

The CH-53E Super Stallion helicopter from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing went down near California's El Centro city during what officials called a routine training mission, killing all the four crew members on board.

A Marine Corps AV-8B Harrier jet also crashed on Tuesday in the East African nation of Djibouti during a training exercise.

The Thunderbirds have withdrawn their participation at this weekend's Air & Space Expo at March Air Force Base in Riverside County in a response to the crash.

--ANI