US fighter jet crashes in Washington state

WASHINGTON, June 14 (YPA) – The 11th Marine Air Group announced that the military aircraft that crashed in Washington state was a Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet.

NBC News, citing a statement from the group, reported that the crash occurred around noon and involved an F/A-18 Hornet based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California.

The statement added that the fighter jet was on a training flight when it crashed in the mountains of Washington state, sparking a wildfire. The pilot ejected and sustained minor injuries; he was rescued by the county sheriff’s office.

The unit responsible for the aircraft stated that the investigation could take months and declined to provide further details.

Local television station ‘KOMO’ News had previously reported a military aircraft crash near Lake Rimrock and a subsequent fire.

YPA