Two U.S. Air Force A-10C Thunderbolt ground attack aircraft crashed Wednesday night at Nellis Air Force base’s Nevada Test and Training Range. The planes were assigned to the 57th Wing at Nellis Air Force Base.
The Air Force released a statement stating that both pilots ejected safely before the planes hit the ground.
The Air Force doesn’t know what caused the crash that occurred about 8 p.m., local time, Wednesday night at the Nevada Test and Training Range. But added that an investigation into the incident would be launched.
The two A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft were assigned to the 57th Wing at Nellis Air Force Base.
The cause of the accident is under investigation, but typically when two planes crash at the same time the most likely cause is a mid-air collision of some kind.
The A-10, known as the Warthog, is a single-seat ground support aircraft primarily used to support troops flying from low altitudes. The A-10 was the only aircraft that was designed around its 30 mm Gatling gun weapons system that can fire armor piercing and explosive rounds at up to 3,900 rounds per minute. It can also carry an array of conventional bombs.
The A-10 has been in the service since the 1970s and was slotted for retirement by the Air Force before that decision was put on hold for the time being. The Air Force is also experimenting with lighter attack aircraft in combat situations where the enemy doesn’t have sophisticated air defense system in place.
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