New body camera footage shows a bloodied Marine pilot walking away from the scene after his F-18 fighter jet crashed into a remote mountainside in Washington state. The pilot ejected before the crash, which sparked a wildfire.
Crash details
The multi-million-dollar McDonnell Douglas Hornet was destroyed in the crash near Rimrock Lake on June 13. Police officers encountered the pilot on a nearby road, where he appeared shaken and covered in blood. The pilot, from the Marine Aircraft Group 11, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing based in California, was coherent and able to explain how he slammed into the trees.
In the video, released by the Yakima County Sheriff's Office, the pilot can be seen on the phone with 911 as he approaches officers. He says: 'That's an F-18. Well, that was an F-18. We were doing circles over the lake, doing some low-level training. And then I tucked in, and honestly I'm not sure exactly.' A witness tells him: 'You hit the tree bad, bud. You're shaking.' The pilot then phones his team, saying 'hey buddy, I just crashed.'
Aftermath and investigation
The pilot suffered minor cuts and lacerations, described as a 'non-fatal aviation mishap' by his squadron, and was taken to a hospital for a check-up. The crash led to a wildfire in the remote area within the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, around 125 miles southeast of Seattle. Campers were evacuated, and a helicopter was sent to tackle the flames. The crash remains under investigation.
