25 August 2023 , 13:34
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A F-18 military jet has smashed into the ground in California - with the pilot's condition unknown.
US defence officials confirmed a Marine F-A 18 jet has crashed near Interstate 17, close to the Miramar Marine Corps Air Station, during a training flight overnight.
78 emergency works have rushed to the scene, with details on who was on the plane unclear. The conditions of the pilot is unknow. According to a spokesperson for the San Diego Fire Dispatch, a rescue team was dispatched and had a helicopter looking for the missing pilot.
Marine Corps Air Station Miramar said in a statement: "We are aware of an accident involving an F/A-18 Hornet in the vicinity of MCAS Miramar at 11:54 P.M.
An investigation is ongoing (AFP via Getty Images)"This aircraft is not part of 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing but was operating out of MCAS Miramar. The crash site is on government property east of the air station and there are no indications of damage to property on the ground.
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"Search and rescue actions are ongoing," the statement added. "An investigation has begun."
The crash comes just weeks after a US military aircraft went down in the Imperial County area of California, United States, near Route 78. The plane, which belonged to the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, had five passengers on board who are presumed dead.
In a statement Marine Corps Air Station Yuma (MCAS Yuma) said: "We caa confirm that an aircraft belonging to 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing crashed near Glamis, CA.
"Military and civilian first responders are on site. Contrary to social media rumours, there was no nuclear material on board the aircraft."
MCAS Yuma posted pictures to its Facebook in the last 20 hours of a training operation taking place.
MCAS Yuma wrote: "An MV-22B Osprey with Marine Operational Test and Evaluation Squadron 1 (VMX-1) transports ordnance during an Expeditionary Advanced Base Operation (EABO) exercise to Old Highway 101 near Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, May 25, 2022.
"This exercise will continue to assess the overall U.S. Marine Corps’ EABOs to improve requirements and sustain lessons learned for future deployments to support the air combat element and objectives of Force Design 2030."
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