A U.S. Marine pilot ejected from his F/A-18 Hornet before it crashed into a mountainside during routine training on June 13. The pilot was found by authorities shortly after the incident and appeared to have sustained minor injuries.
The aircraft experienced a "non-combat aviation mishap" while the pilot was engaged in low-level training over a lake in Washington state. The pilot's name has not been released, but he is assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, based in Miramar, California.
Video footage captured the pilot, described as bloodied and shaken, approaching Yakima County officers. He informed them he had ejected from the aircraft, which he identified as an F-18. "We were doing circles over the lake, doing some low-level training," the pilot explained to the officer. "And then I tucked in, and I'm not sure exactly."
During his descent, the pilot reported passing through trees, and officers noted lacerations on his face, which appeared to be related to the parachute deployment. The pilot was on the phone with 911 when he encountered law enforcement.
The F/A-18 Hornet crashed near Rimrock Lake, approximately 55 miles southeast of Seattle. The impact sent a plume of black smoke into the sky and ignited a wildfire in the mountainous terrain. The estimated value of the downed fighter jet was close to $67 million.
Multiple witnesses reported the crash to emergency services. One witness, audibly distressed, described seeing the jet crash and subsequent fire to a 911 dispatcher. The pilot also contacted 911 himself, stating, "I'm on the other side of the ridge. I do see a fire burning to the south of the road. I can’t tell how bad that fire is."
