FLYING Magazine
Officials at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in San Diego said in a statement that a jet assigned to the 3rd Marine Air Wing “experienced a non-fatal aviation mishap” during a training mission 55 miles southeast of Seattle on Saturday.
According to officials, the pilot of the F/A-18 Hornet “ejected safely and was recovered by the local sheriff’s department.”
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The pilot was transported to a local hospital. No injuries were reported.
The jet crashed near Rimrock Lake within the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest southeast of Mount Rainier. The area is a popular camping and hiking area. The fire prompted campground evacuations and road closures.
The fire grew to 15 acres before it was extinguished by wildland firefighters using an engine from the U.S. Forest Service and helicopters.
Witnesses to the accident described hearing a popping noise coming from the jet and seeing smoke before the pilot ejected.