Two Marine jets collide off California coast, one pilot ejected
Two jets have reportedly crashed near Miramar, a neighborhood in San Diego, KFMB is reporting. One pilot landed safely, while another ejected and had to be pulled from the water.
Update: Both pilots in stable condition. See updated press release. pic.twitter.com/AXYJGGcRRf
— MCAS Miramar, 3rdMAW (@MCASMiramarCA) November 9, 2016
The Marine Corps confirmed that two Third Marine Aircraft Wing single-seat F/A-18 Hornets collided in mid-air during a training mission at about 11:43am.
The cause of the crash is being investigated.
One pilot was able to safely land his jet at Naval Air Station North Island, but a USS Vincent rescue unit had to recover the ejected pilot from the water around 12:41pm, according to a local Fox-affiliate.
The same type of aircraft, and also out of MCAS Miramar, crashed near San Diego in 2008. The pilot, First Lieutenant Dan Neubauer, ejected from the F/A-18 and fell safely into a tree. The jet, however, killed two women and two children in one house in the residential area of University City. Two houses were destroyed, and a third was damaged.
