Navy Jet Crashes Into Apartments in Va.; Pilot Avoided 'Massive Fireball' (VIDEO)
A Navy jet crashed into an apartment complex in Virginia Beach, Va., Friday afternoon, injuring at least six people – including the two pilots – but no fatalities have been reported.
The two pilots flying the F/A-18 jet avoided a "massive fireball" scenario by dumping fuel before the crash.
"By doing so, he mitigated what could have been an absolute massive, massive fireball and fire," said Bruce Nedelka, the Virginia Beach EMS division chief, to The Associated Press. "With all of that jet fuel dumped, it was much less than what it could have been."
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As of this moment, it is unclear what caused the military jet to lose control and dive into the Mayfair Mews Apartments, just miles from the Naval Air Base Oceana, where the jet departed from. The two pilots ejected from the jet just before it crashed, but one pilot was entangled in the crash site before residents helped free him.
"I deeply regret that some in our community have lost their homes, and I, like many, pray for the well-being of all," said Admiral John C. Harvey, Jr., commander of U.S. Fleet Forces in a statement. "I must also offer my deepest gratitude to the citizens of Virginia Beach and the Mayfair Mews Apartments, as well as Virginia Beach's first responders, for their immediate and heroic response to take care of our aircrew after they ejected and all at the scene of the mishap."
