An F/A-18E Super Hornet fighter jet of the United States Navy crashed during training in California.
The fighter was involved in a routine training mission near China Lake Test Base when it crashed for an unknown reason. “An F/A-18E Super Hornet from Naval Air Station Lemoore experienced a mishap at approximately 10:10 a.m. today during a routine training flight near Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake,” a spokesperson of the Navy said. The squadron to which the aircraft belonged was undisclosed.
The pilot managed to eject safely and was taken to a local hospital to receive medical aid. Local fire departments were sent to the crash site in order to control the fire. The causes of the accident are being investigated.
Naval Air Station Lemoore is also located in California, northwest of China Lake Test Base. It houses multiple F/A-18 Super Hornet squadrons. Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake is a military complex located in Kern County, California. It is used by the United States Navy to test aircraft and weapon systems. It is unclear as of now if the crashed F/A-18E Super Hornet was armed when the incident took place.