MiG-21 crashes near Reno; pilot escapes major injury

RENO — A fighter jet crashed at Reno-Stead Airport near Reno on Friday morning, but the pilot escaped with non-life threatening injuries.

Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor said the single-engine MiG-21 rolled into equipment at the end of the runway after landing and some runaway lighting was damaged.

Reno fire officials told the Reno Gazette-Journal that it appears the pilot was landing the aircraft when the brakes failed, causing it to run off the end of the runway and end up in brush. The plane came to a rest upright, and there was no fire.

They said the pilot was the only person aboard at the time and he escaped with non-life threatening injuries.

According to FAA records, the plane, made by Russian company Mikoyan Gurevich, is registered to MiGs of Delaware LLC of Wilmington, Del.

The airport, about 15 miles north of Reno, is home to the annual National Championship Air Races.

The 9:20 a.m. crash is under investigation by federal authorities.