A U.S. Marine Corps fighter jet crashed into a mountainside in Washington state Saturday afternoon, igniting a wildfire that forced campers to evacuate the area as firefighting crews rushed to contain the blaze.
The incident occurred around noon near Rimrock Lake in Yakima County, approximately 55 kilometres southeast of Seattle. The pilot, assigned to Marine Aircraft Group 11 based in San Diego, safely ejected from the aircraft and sustained only minor injuries before being transported to hospital, according to the Yakima County Sheriff's Office.
The F/A-18 Hornet had been conducting routine training operations when the non-fatal aviation mishap occurred. The crash immediately sparked a fire in the surrounding terrain, prompting authorities to evacuate nearby campsites as emergency responders mobilized.
"The jet experienced a non-fatal aviation mishap while conducting routine training approximately 55 miles southeast of Seattle, Washington," a U.S. Marine Corps statement confirmed.
Emergency response was swift. The Naches Fire Department coordinated with multiple agencies including helicopters and ground crews from the U.S. Forest Service's Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. The exact size of the resulting wildfire remained unclear as of Saturday evening, though aerial and ground firefighting efforts were underway to suppress the flames.
The cause of the crash is currently under investigation by military officials. The 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, to which the aircraft was assigned, is stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar in California.
This story was originally reported by CBS News.