Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Jun 14: A US military fighter jet crashed in Washington state during a routine training mission, triggering a wildfire in a forested region near Rimrock Lake. The pilot successfully ejected before the crash and sustained only minor injuries, according to local media reports.
The aircraft involved was an F/A-18 Hornet assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11 of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California.
Authorities said the fighter jet went down while conducting a scheduled training exercise. Emergency responders and local law enforcement personnel were immediately deployed to the crash site near Rimrock Lake.
Sheriff's deputies located the pilot shortly after the incident and transported him to a nearby hospital for medical evaluation. Officials confirmed that his injuries were minor.
The crash sparked a brush and wildland fire in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, prompting a large-scale firefighting operation. Multiple helicopters, along with personnel from local fire departments and emergency agencies, were mobilised to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading.
Among the agencies responding to the incident was the Naches Fire Department, which joined efforts to suppress the wildfire caused by the impact of the aircraft.
Military authorities have launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash. No additional details regarding the circumstances leading to the accident have been released.
The incident comes amid heightened attention on military aviation safety following recent combat-related aircraft losses involving US forces overseas.
Earlier this year, reports indicated that a US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle was brought down during operations over Iran, prompting a combat search-and-rescue mission. Both crew members aboard the two-seat aircraft successfully ejected and survived.
On the same day, a separate A-10 Thunderbolt II was reportedly lost in the region, though its pilot was rescued safely.
According to media reports, preliminary US assessments suggested that both aircraft may have been struck by Iranian fire. Iranian authorities claimed responsibility for downing an American fighter aircraft and released images purportedly showing wreckage from an F-15E, although the authenticity of those images was not independently verified.
Videos circulating on social media at the time appeared to show US aircraft conducting low-altitude flights over southwestern Iran, possibly as part of combat search-and-rescue operations involving specialised rescue aircraft and helicopters.
Investigations into the Washington state crash are continuing, while firefighting crews remain engaged in efforts to fully contain the wildfire sparked by the downed aircraft.