Pilot killed after US Navy fighter jet crashes in California
The US Navy says one of its fighter jets has crashed in the southern California desert, killing the pilot.
In a statement, the navy said that the FA-18E Super Hornet crashed in the vicinity of Trona, on Friday afternoon local time.
Trona is about 230 miles southeast of the fighter jet’s base at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California.
No civilians were hurt.
The identity of the pilot will not be released until 24 hours after their family has been told, the navy added.
Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake Federal Firefighters and Naval Security Forces are at the crash site, which is an unincorporated Mojave Desert community in San Bernardino County.
Lemoore is home to Commander Strike Fighter Wing Pacific and Commander Joint Strike Fighter Wing and hosts 16 operational Strike Fighter squadrons, according to its website.
