“At approximately 10:45am this morning, a military aircraft experienced an incident during takeoff on the Nellis Air Force Base flight line,” the Nellis air force Base Public Affairs department said.
“The aircraft was required to abort its takeoff and subsequently caught fire. However all personnel are safe.”
The department said that emergency services are on the scene, there are no serious injuries and the incident is now the subject of an investigation.
“The cause of the incident is unknown and is under investigation.”
US media outlet The War Zone reported that the plane skidded off the runway and burst into flames at 10.45am on Saturday (5.45am AEDT).
The $300 million aircraft was severely damaged in the incident.
Pictures circulated on the internet showed what appeared to be burned panels on the aircraft’s wings and damage to the underwing special pods containing the electronic warfare equipment.
The aircraft is a variant of the F/A-18 Super Hornet and designed to suppress the enemies communications and electronic systems.
The Australian Defence department also confirmed there had been an “incident” at the Nellis Air Base in southern Nevada during ongoing Red Flag military exercises.
“Royal Australian Air Force personnel are safe and no serious injuries have been sustained. Defence is currently working with the United States air force to investigate and will provide an update with further details once known.”
Defence announced last week that 340 Royal Australian Air Force personnel had been deployed to Nevada to train in “the world’s most complex air combat environment” during Exercise Red Flag.
Defence said last week the personnel would be deployed from January 29 until February 16.
Along with four EA-18G Growlers, the air force also sent a AP-3C Orion, an E-7A Wedgetail Airborne Early Warning and Control aircraft as well as a Control and Reporting Centre from 41 Wing “to support airborne personnel and aircraft” to the exercise.
(The Australian)