HOUSTON – Evacuations were ordered on Wednesday for an area near Ellington Airport after a pilot was forced to eject from a burning F-16 jet.
People were evacuated from buildings within a 4,000-foot radius of the airport, according to officials at the Houston Office of Emergency Management. They said there are only support and public works facilities within the area.
Officials said Beltway 8 was closed from Crenshaw to Galveston roads, and deputies from the Harris County Precinct 8 Constable's Office said they were blocking streets around the airport, including the intersection of Farley and Genoa Red Bluff roads.
The jet was taking-off when it caught fire and crashed, according to several officials. Video from KPRC 2 viewer Mitch Ivey showed a large plume of smoke rising from the airport.
VIDEO: Smoke rises from Ellington Airport
A spokesman for the Texas Air National Guard 147th Reconnaissance Wing, which is based at the airport, said the jet had ammunition on board at the time of the crash.
According to a written statement from NORAD, the pilot safely ejected and was being evaluated at a local medical facility.
The F-16 Fighting Falcon was part of a detachment of the 138th Fighter Wing, which is stationed at Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base, according to NORAD.
Houston OEM tweeted that the center has been elevated to Level III readiness because of the crash.
The City's Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been activated to Level III (Increased Readiness) following today's #EllingtonCrash.
— Houston OEM (@HoustonOEM) June 21, 2017
F-16 Crash update@cohoustonfire https://t.co/BcfH1FXwMF
— Houston Fire Dept (@HoustonFire) June 21, 2017
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