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F/A-18 Navy Jet
Crashes In Virginia Beach Destroying A Number Of Homes By Mike Mitchell |
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April 7, 2012 - An F/A-18D assigned to Strike Fighter
Squadron (VFA) 106 crashed in Virginia Beach, Virginia
on Friday. Approximately 12:05 PM the jet crashed just
after takeoff at a location just off of the base. The
F/A-18D crashed into an apartment complex destroying a
number of homes. Smoke and flames consumed the housing
complex.
Capt. Mark Weisgerber with U.S. Fleet Forces Command
said the F/A-18D jet had dumped its fuel just before the
crash, though it wasn?t clear if that was because of a
malfunction or an intentional maneuver by the pilots
The pilots onboard included a student and an instructor,
it has been reported the instructor was an ?extremely
experienced? pilot. Both pilots safely ejected from the
aircraft. VFA-106 is based at Naval Air Station Oceana,
and serves as the East Coast Fleet Replacement Squadron.
Their mission is to train Navy and Marine Corps F/A-18
Replacement Pilots and Weapon Systems Officers (WSOs) to
support fleet commitments.
By
late evening emergency responders were searching through
the charred remains of the housing complex in which 40
apartment units were damaged or destroyed. In total,
seven people, including the pilots were taken to an area
hospital. All except one of the pilots were released by
nightfall.
At this time three residents remained unaccounted by
late Friday said Virginia Beach Fire Department Capt.
Tim Riley. At this time no fatalities had been reported. Adm. John C. Harvey, Jr., commander, U.S. Fleet Forces said "My thoughts and prayers are with our citizens and families who have been impacted by the tragic crash today in Virginia Beach by an aircraft from NAS Oceana. I deeply regret that some in our community have lost their homes, and I, like many, pray for the well-being of all. |
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