Air Force: Rocket unintentionally released in military operations area northeast of Tucson

NEAR TUCSON, Ariz. - Officials with the United States Air Force say a rocket was unintentionally released in an area northeast of Tucson Thursday morning.

According to the statement, the incident happened at around 10:40 a.m., when an A-10C Thunderbolt II assigned to the 354th Fighter Squadron from the 355th Wing released a single M-156 rocket. The rocket landed in a desert wash in an uninhabited area under the Jackal Military Operations Area, which is located about 60 miles northeast of Tucson.

The A-10C Thunderbolt II was on a routine training mission at the time, Air Force officials say, and the training area is not designated for munitions release.

A-10C Thunderbolt II (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Eugene Oliver)

No injuries, damages or fires have been reported from the accidental launch of the white phosphorus projectile, according to Air Force officials. White phosphorus is used by the military in various types of ammunition to produce smoke for concealing troop movement and to identify targets.

The incident is under investigation.

The Associated Press (AP) contributed to this report.