Crews Move Thunderbird From Crash Site

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3412031COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (CBS4)- Crews prepared to move the F-16 Thunderbird from the crash site near Colorado Springs on Tuesday.

Copter4 flew over as crews surrounded the crashed Thunderbird near Colorado Springs (credit: CBS)

The Thunderbird crashed after the flyover during last week's Air Force Academy graduation. Pilot Maj. Alex Turner was preparing to land when something went wrong and he ejected from the plane while it was already low to the ground.

(credit: Barrett Tyron/KKTV)

The jet had participated in a flyover during the graduation ceremony at the Air Force Academy where President Barack Obama spoke.

(credit: CBS)

Turner walked away from the crash, landing nearly a half mile away. Before boarding Air Force One, Obama stopped his motorcade as he was leaving the Air Force Academy and thanked Turner for his service. Obama also said he was thankful Turner was not seriously hurt.

An image of the crash site from Copter4 (credit: CBS)

The $25 million aircraft will be stored at a hangar on Peterson Air Force Base where investigators will carefully go over every part of it.

Copter4 flew over the Thunderbird as a crane lifted it off the ground (credit: CBS)

Copter4 flew over as the Thunderbird jet was placed on a semi trailer (credit: CBS)

Copter4 flew over the jet as it was loaded onto a trailer (credit: CBS)

Colorado Springs