Navy jet crashes in Virginia Beach, wiping out part of apartment complex
Firefighters work to extinguish a fire that erupted after an F/A-18D fighter jet after it crashed into a a Virginia Beach apartment complex, tearing the roof off at least one building that was engulfed in flames. The crash happened in the Hampton Roads area, which has a large concentration of military bases, including Naval Station Norfolk, the largest naval base in the world. Both pilots ejected from the jet
Media reports say a Navy jet crashed in Virginia Beach and the two aviators aboard are believed to have ejected before the impact.
Two hero pilots have been praised for preventing scores of potential deaths by dumping plane fuel as their doomed F-18 Navy fighter jet plummeted to the ground in Virginia Beach, Virginia - decisive action that authorities saved the craft from sparking a 'massive, massive fireball'.
Although the plane crashed into an apartment building, ripping the roofs off condos, town houses, and a retirement community, the two crew members safely ejected from the craft. There are no known deaths - but fears remain over three elderly people who are unaccounted for.
The two pilots managed to eject just before impact, suffering minor injuries along with five others on the ground. Several residents described hearing a loud explosion and looking out their windows to see the red and orange blaze. In the confusion that followed, two men helped one of the bloodied pilots from the two-seat F18 Hornet move to safety.
The plane had dumped loads of fuel before crashing, though it wasn't clear if that was because of a malfunction or an intentional maneuver by the pilots, said Capt. Mark Weisgerber with U.S. Fleet Forces Command. The jet went down less than 10 miles from Oceana.
Five civilians, as well as the two pilots, who were a student and an instructor, were taken to hospital to be treated, but their injuries were not serious and all but one, a pilot, had been released by Friday evening.
Rescuers continued to search the wreckage of the Mayfair Mews apartment complex for victims on Friday night; the whereabouts of three residents who live in the block are unknown, Reuters reported.
(The usual disclaimers: I am not a journalist; This is a blog that expresses an outlook and is not conclusive in any shape or manner.)
