VAL VERDE COUNTY, Texas — One pilot died and another was injured Monday when an Air Force T-38 Talon crashed in Del Rio, Texas, according to officials.
The T-38 crashed around 4 p.m. about 14 miles northwest of Laughlin Air Force Base, where the jet was assigned, base officials said.
Authorities did not immediately identify the pilots, citing the need to notify their families.
According to Air Force officials, “the T-38 is the training aircraft used to teach student pilots the basics of flying.”
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The circumstances surrounding the crash were not immediately clear. Base officials said a board of officers will investigate the crash.
“Our biggest priority at this time is caring for the family and friends of our Airmen,” Col. Michelle Pryor, 47th Flying Training Wing vice commander, said in a news release. “We are a close-knit family, and when a tragedy like this occurs every member of the U.S. Armed Forces feels it. Our people take top priority, and we are committed to ensuring their safety and security."