F-18 jet crashes in Kern County, California; pilot ejects safely
The crash occurred after the plane experienced a 'mishap,' officials said
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A U.S. Navy fighter jet crashed in southern California on Tuesday, a U.S. defense official tells Fox News.
The pilot of the single-seat Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet was able to eject and is currently listed as stable at a local hospital. The crash occurred near Naval Air Station China Lake, Calif., 113 miles east of Bakersfield, where the Navy conducts live-fire training.
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The crash was at around 10:20 a.m. The pilot took off from Naval Air Station Lemoore in Kings County when the plane "experienced a mishap" during routine flight training, according to a social media post from the base.
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The pilot's parachute opened during the ejection, and a small grass fire followed the crash, KGET reported. The pilot was released from a medical facility after an examination.
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The Navy is cooperating with local authorities, officials said. The Bureau of Land Management has closed the area around the crash site so investigators can complete their inqury.