New Mexico
Military aircraft crashes near New Mexico's international airport in Albuquerque
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A military aircraft crashed Tuesday near the international airport in Albuquerque, New Mexico, but authorities said the pilot was conscious and breathing.
The aircraft came down on the south side of the airport, Albuquerque International Sunport spokesperson Diana Lopez said. She said the nearby Kirtland Air Force Base was leading the investigation into the crash. The base did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Lopez said the pilot was the sole person aboard and was receiving medical care.
Patrick White, who was driving in the area at the time of the crash, told The Associated Press that he saw an aircraft trailing low on the ground, kicking up a cloud of dirt and dust. He said the aircraft briefly disappeared from his line of sight, and then he saw “an enormous plume of black smoke.”
When he drove past the crash, he said he saw a piece of it “in the middle of the road.”
Authorities haven’t said what type of aircraft was involved.