A faulty engine led to a fighter jet crash near Joint Base Andrews in Maryland earlier this year, the Air Force said Thursday.
The F-16 crashed on April 5 in a wooded area about 6 miles southwest of the base that is home to Air Force One. The pilot, who was on a routine training mission, was able to steer the aircraft away from a neighborhood and eject from the jet before it crashed.
An investigation found the jet's engine wasn't assembled correctly. The engine control was missing a required 600-degree training ring and an anti-rotation pin, according to the Air Combat Command.
"This led to severe engine overspeed, severe engine over-temperature, engine fire, and, ultimately, a catastrophic engine failure," the Air Combat Command said in a release.
The pilot was not hurt after ejecting from the plane.
The $22 million jet was a total loss.
