Homestead F-16 crashes in Gulf of Mexico Published Jan. 16, 2008 HOMESTEAD AIR RESERVE BASE, Fla. -- An Air Force F-16 fighter jet crashed at about 7:30 p.m. Jan. 15 in the Gulf of Mexico near Key West, Fla. The plane belonged to Air Force Reserve Command's 482nd Fighter Wing, Homestead ARB. The pilot was flying a training mission at the time of the accident. A U.S. Navy helicopter picked up the pilot and flew him to a local hospital. A physician examined him, and he was released from the hospital. A board of officers will investigate the accident. (Air Force Reserve Command News Service from a 482nd FW news release)