Pilot Killed As US Marine's F/A-18 Hornet Fighter Jet Crashes In California's San Diego

A US Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet crashed on Thursday night (local time) near California's San Diego, killing the pilot, according to a statement from the maritime land force. The deceased service member was the only person onboard the jet, CNN reported.

Search and rescue teams sent out after the crash found the pilot at the scene and confirmed that he had been killed, the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing and Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina said in a statement, as per CNN.

The statement said, "With a heavy heart, our condolences go to the Marine’s family during this time." It added that the slain personnel's identity would not be released "until 24 hours after all next-of-kin notifications have been completed."

A Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet crashed in the vicinity of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar at 11:54pm PST, Aug. 24.

Please see @MCASMiramarCA for queries, and updates as they become available. pic.twitter.com/yKX3rJ3viJ

— U.S. Marines (@USMC) August 25, 2023

The ill-fated multirole combat aircraft crashed on US government property in the vicinity of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar "and there are no indications of damage to property on the ground", the Marines informed. As per the Marines, an investigation into the crash has begun.

The F/A-18 Hornet is the US's first all-weather fighter and attack aircraft, and is considered "the workhorse of Marine Corps tactical aviation", according to Naval Air Systems Command. 

(With inputs from AMI)