Reports: Marine Corps fighter jet crashes in England

October 21, 2015
By Oriana Pawlyk, Staff writer

A Marine pilot died this morning when his F/A-18C crashed outside of RAF Mildenhall, England, Marine officials have confirmed.

It was not immediately clear what caused the accident, or whether the pilot ejected.

“Our deepest condolences go out to the family and friends of the pilot,” reads a press release from Headquarters Marine Corps at the Pentagon.

The single-seat jet, assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 out of Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, was returning from a rotational deployment to the Middle East, where it was attached to Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force–Crisis Response–Central. The unit flew daily sorties out of Anbar province, Iraq, against Islamic State militants.

At the time of the accident the Hornet was traveling with five other aircraft from Bahrain back to Miramar. The other aircraft safely diverted to nearby RAF Lossiemouth, according to a Marine news release.

“The United Kingdom Coast Guard is currently on the scene of the crash site and is in close coordination with U.S. military officials,” according to the Marine news release.

More information is forthcoming from officials with 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing as more details become avialable.