Phonenix: An F-16 fighter jet crashed in rough terrain in remote central Arizona on Thursday, U.S. Air Force officials said.


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There was no immediate word on the fate of the pilot of the Fighting Falcon aircraft that went down at about 8:45 a.m. local time near Baghdad, the officials said in a statement.


Military officials and local authorities launched a search-and-rescue operation on Thursday morning, the officials said.


The cause of the crash was not immediately known, and a military panel has been established to conduct an investigation.


The $25 million jet is assigned to the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base in Glendale, a suburb of Phoenix, officials said. The crash occurred about 100 miles northwest of the base.


The base is responsible for training pilots on F-16 and F-35 fighter jets.