A US military fighter jet crashed in Washington state, leading to a wildfire. The pilot managed to eject before the crash and sustained minor injuries. The incident occurred near Rimrock Lake, triggering an emergency firefighting response in the forested area.
The F/A-18 Hornet aircraft, stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California, was on a routine training mission when it went down. Authorities, as cited by NBC News, reported the crash. The fighter jet belonged to Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, based at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California.
Local sheriff’s deputies rescued the pilot, who suffered only minor injuries and was taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation. The crash resulted in a significant brush and wildland fire in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. Multiple firefighting helicopters and local agencies, including the Naches Fire Department, responded to control and extinguish the blaze.
The cause of the aviation incident is currently under investigation by the US Marine Corps. Earlier in April, a US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down over Iran, leading to a combat search-and-rescue operation. Both crew members successfully ejected from the aircraft. The F-15E is a two-seat multirole fighter with a pilot and a weapons systems officer.
In a separate event on the same day, a US Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II attack aircraft was also lost in the region. Fortunately, the pilot was safely rescued, according to individuals familiar with the situation as reported by local media. Initial US reports suggest that both aircraft may have been hit by Iranian fire. Iran claimed responsibility for downing an American fighter and shared images purportedly showing the wreckage of an F-15E, although the authenticity of these images could not be independently verified.
Social media videos from southwestern Iran indicated US aircraft flying at low altitudes, potentially engaged in combat search-and-rescue missions. The US Air Force has combat search-and-rescue teams in the area equipped with HC-130J Combat King II aircraft and HH-60 helicopters. Reports indicated that at least one rescue helicopter involved in the operation was hit by Iranian fire but managed to land safely.
