A Marine pilot, bloodied but remarkably composed, was seen walking away from a fiery F/A-18 fighter jet crash in Washington state on June 13, according to newly released video footage from the Yakima County Sheriff’s Office.
The pilot, assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, was on the phone with 911 dispatchers when he encountered responding deputies near the crash site. He identified the aircraft as an F/A-18, adding, "Well, that was an F/A-18."
The aircraft crashed into a mountainside near Rimrock Lake, approximately 55 miles southeast of Seattle, during routine military training exercises. The incident created a plume of black smoke and sparked a wildfire.
Describing the moments leading up to the crash, the pilot explained, "We were doing circles over the lake, doing some low-level training…and then I tucked in, and I’m not sure exactly." He acknowledged feeling "a little frazzled."
Video shows the pilot alerting others to the wreck, stating, "Hey, buddy, I just crashed." He also discussed his injuries with officers, which were believed to be lacerations from his parachute. He mentioned going through trees on his descent.
The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing confirmed the incident as a "non-fatal aviation mishap" during routine training. The pilot's name has not been released, and the crash remains under investigation.