Marine F/A-18C crashes at Twentynine Palms; pilot safe

By: The Associated Press

TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. — A Marine Corps jet fighter crashed and burned Tuesday in the Southern California desert, but the pilot ejected safely, a spokesman said.
The twin-engine F/A-18C Hornet crashed around 6 p.m. near the end of a training flight at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center.
“Initial reports say that he had touched down and after he touched down, he needed to eject,” said 1st Lt. John P. Roberts, a Marine spokesman.
The pilot appeared to have no major injuries, but he was taken to a local hospital as a precaution, Roberts said. “He’s OK and doing well right now,” he said.
The aircraft burned, Roberts said.
There was no immediate word on what caused the crash.
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