The remarkable composure displayed by Marine Corps Maj. Jackson Simon after ejecting from his F-18 Hornet on June 13, 2026, near Rimrock Lake in Washington state can be attributed to a combination of shock, adrenaline, and rigorous pilot training, according to former TOPGUN pilot Matthew "Whiz" Buckley.

Buckley, who flew F-18 Hornets for 15 years in the U.S. Navy, told Fox News Digital that the "eerily calm" demeanor Simon exhibited, as captured on a Yakima County sheriff's deputy's bodycam, is a common reaction in such high-stress situations. "If anything's going wrong, we focus on the task. Everything else goes away," Buckley explained. "That was the most violent thing that ever happened to that Marine in his entire life."

Ejection from an aircraft traveling at hundreds of miles per hour is an incredibly violent maneuver. Buckley noted that the average ejection seat can exert forces of 10 to 20 Gs, often leaving pilots with little to no memory of the event itself, only the moments before pulling the ejection handle and waking up under their parachute.

Dangers of Ejection

The physical toll of ejection can be severe. Buckley cited studies indicating a significant mortality rate and a high percentage of major injuries among military aircrew who eject. The process can cause spinal compression, leading some individuals to lose height. Proper body positioning is crucial to avoid life-threatening injuries such as limb detachment from wind blast or fractures from "seat slap," which occurs if legs are not positioned correctly against the seat.

While Buckley has never had to eject, he emphasized the potentially devastating impact on the human body. He noted that some pilots are unable to return to flying status after an ejection.

The Crash Investigation

Simon's F-18 crashed into a forest, sparking a small wildfire. Initial reports suggest the aircraft may have clipped power lines while performing low-flying maneuvers, though the Marine Corps has not confirmed this and states the cause remains under investigation. Buckley commented that such an incident is not typical, given minimum altitude restrictions for aircraft.

"We have minimum altitude restrictions. And there ain't no 500-foot trees, right? So I don't know what they were doing," Buckley said. He speculated that the pilot might have been distracted by spectators, a scenario he hoped was not the case.

Following the crash, Maj. Simon is likely to face a review board that will assess his actions. The board's recommendations could impact his future flight status, potentially leading to the loss of his "wings" or a period of probation. Buckley stressed the importance of understanding the cause of the crash, given the significant cost of the aircraft.