Marine Corps pilot found dead after F18 fighter jet crashes outside Miramar Air Force Base in San Diego
- This morning the search area was covered by dense fog
- The pilot was the only person on board the Mach 2 fighter jet
A US Marine Corps pilot has died after the F/A-18 Hornet he was flying crashed outside Miramar Air Force Base near San Diego.
A spokesman for the base said a search and rescue operation was underway when the plane crashed just before midnight on Thursday.
Dense fog covered the search area east of the base near Interstate 15 this morning and at 11 a.m. PST a spokesman for the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing confirmed the pilot’s body had been found.
“Search and rescue personnel recovered the US Marine Corps pilot, whose death was confirmed at the scene,” he added.
“The pilot was the only person on board the plane.
“It is with a heavy heart that our condolences go out to the Marine family at this time.”
Rescuers are combing the crash site east of Miramar Air Force Base this morning
The pilot flew from the Marines’ Miramar Air Force Base near San Diego
Introduced in 1983, the Mach 2 aircraft is billed as the US Navy’s “workforce” but is scheduled to be phased out by 2030
The Mach 2 aircraft was part of the Marine All-Weather Fighter Attack Squadron and is described by the Navy as “the workhorse of Marine Corps tactical aviation.”
It is flown by Marine Corps Reserve squadrons, the Navy’s Blue Angels aerobatic team and other fleet support functions.
Introduced in 1983, it is scheduled to be phased out by 2030 and replaced by the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
Officials are expected not to reveal the pilot’s identity until 24 hours after notifying next of kin.
A spokesman for the air force base said: “This aircraft is not part of the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing but was operating out of MCAS Miramar.”
“The crash site is on government property east of the air base and there is no evidence of damage to property on the ground.”
“An investigation has begun.”