Fighter Jet Crashes Near Nellis Air Force Base In Nevada, Pilot Killed

An aircraft crashed soon after takeoff from Nellis Air Force base near Las Vegas on Monday, killing the pilot.

The pilot, whose identity was not revealed, was the only person on board the Dassault Aviation Mirage F1 fighter jet.

According to officials, the crash involved a non-Air Force contractor-operated aircraft flown by a non-Air Force pilot. The "contractor-operated aircraft" crashed outside the southern edge of the Nellis base in Nevada around 2:30 p.m. local time Monday (5:30 p.m. ET).

Nellis Airforce base, in a statement, confirmed that the aircraft was owned, operated and piloted by Draken US, a Florida-based company. The company is contracted to provide adversary air support to Nellis Air Force Base.

"Draken has received news of a downed aircraft out of Nellis AFB and the tragic loss of one of our pilots," Draken US said in the statement. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the people and families affected by this event. We are doing everything in our power to assist them in this time of need, and we are working closely with federal, state and local authorities."

Draken US has been serving as a contractor to the Nellis base since 2015. It maintains a fleet of aircraft in the base, including the French-built Mirage F1 fighter jet to fly against the US Air Force pilots as aggressor jets in training, reported CNN.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will investigate the crash.

Multiple federal and local agencies responded to the scene. The possible cause of the crash has not been revealed. It is also not known if anyone on the ground has sustained injuries.

The base in southern Nevada is approximately 8 miles northeast of downtown Las Vegas.